Device and method for conveying and holding plate-like member

ABSTRACT

In a component mounting work area, two electronic circuit boards are placed in a zigzag manner and components are mounted independently on each board. Two sets of working their drive units, board conveying/holding devices recognition cameras and so forth are also arranged. The board conveying/holding devices for holding boards are moved to positions close to component feed units, and components are mounted in respective mounting areas.

This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/979,221, filed Nov. 20, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,612, which is anational stage application of International application No.PCT/JP00/03212, filed May 19, 2000.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for conveyingand holding a plate-like member, wherein a carried-in plate-like membercan be held and, after prescribed operations such as printing,processing, component mounting, and so forth, the held plate-like membercan be carried out. In particular, the present invention relates to awork apparatus such as a component mounting apparatus or the likeequipped with a plate-like member conveying/holding device such as aboard conveying/holding device for holding a board when the board ontowhich components are mounted is used as an example of a plate-likemember and components are mounted on the board.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, while electronic circuit boards vary in sizes widelyfrom a small size type including a portable telephone to a large sizeboard such as a server computer or the like, it is being required toproduce them most efficiently in a minimum process time. As a form of amounting apparatus, a robot-type mounting apparatus, in which a workinghead for sucking electronic components is moved by using an XY robot tomount the electronic components, is becoming mainstream.

Hereafter, an example of a conventional electronic component mountingapparatus is explained with reference to FIG. 35.

In the figure, reference numerals 1201, 1202 and 1203 denote componentfeed units for taping components. Reference numeral 204 denotes acomponent feed unit for components housed on a tray. Reference numeral1204 denotes a component feed unit for components housed on a tray.Reference numerals 1205 and 1206 denote recognition cameras for pickingup an image of a suction attitude of an electronic component in aworking head before mounted. Reference numeral 1207 denotes a nozzlestation for housing a plurality of kinds of nozzles suitable for aplurality of kinds of electronic components. Reference numeral 1208denotes a loader for carrying an electronic circuit board 1211 into acomponent mounting work area. Reference numeral 1209 denotes a boardconveying/holding device composed of support rails 1209 a, 1209 b forsupporting an electronic circuit board 1212. The board conveying/holdingdevice 1209 is constituted such that one support rail 1209 b can bemoved as far as a position 1210 according to the maximum size of theelectronic circuit board to be applied. Reference numeral 1213 denotesan unloader for carrying the electronic circuit board 1211 out of thecomponent mounting work area.

Operations in the conventional electronic component mounting apparatusare explained with reference to FIG. 35. An electronic circuit board1211 is supported by support rails 1209 a, 1209 b via a loader 1208. Aworking head (not shown) is moved by an XY robot along a path shown withA in FIG. 35. An electronic component is sucked by a component suctionnozzle attached to the working head from a taping component feed unit1201. The working head is moved and a suction attitude of the suckedcomponent is measured by a recognition camera 1205. After thecalculation for a position correction, the sucked and recognizedcomponent is mounted onto the electronic circuit board 1212 by movementof the working head while its position is corrected. Meanwhile, acomponent feed unit for feeding electronic components is also disposedin the rear of the component mounting work area of the mountingapparatus as shown with reference numerals 1203 and 1204. An image of anelectronic component sucked from the taping component feed unit 1203 orthe components housed on a tray 1204 is also picked up by a recognitioncamera 1206 so that its attitude at a suction position is recognized.After the calculation for a position correction, the sucked andrecognized component is mounted onto the electronic circuit board 1212by a nozzle. This path is shown with B.

In recent years, electronic circuit boards vary from a small size typeto a large size type. In an electronic component mounting apparatus,support rails 1209 a, 1209 b are designed in a size in which a board ofup to the maximum size can be supported. Therefore, the support rails1209 a, 1209 b are constituted such that the support rail 1209 a on thefront side of the mounting apparatus is fixed while the support rail1209 b in the rear can be moved depending on the board size.Consequently, the component feed units 1203, 1204 in the rear aredisposed further behind the furthest rear position 1210 of the supportrail 1209 b. In a small size board, this seriously hinders reduction ofa mounting time since the moving distance of the working head fromsuction of the electronic component to mounting through recognition isincreased, resulting in the longer moving time as shown with path B.While the mounting time needs to be reduced to reduce costs of mountingelectronic components, the distances between three processes, that is, asuction process, recognition process, and mounting process of electroniccomponents needs to be minimized to reduce this mounting time. Tominimize the distances between the three processes, there is a method ofintegrally moving support rails 1209 a, 1209 b, support pins which aredisposed below the support rails 1209 a, 1209 b and support theelectronic circuit board from downward, and a support plate, on whichthe support pins are disposed, depending on the electronic component tobe fed. However, a mechanism for moving the support pins and the supportplate is required and the movement amount of these members itself islittle. Thus, this method is not very effective. In view of the mountingquality, moving the electronic circuit board more than necessary duringcomponent mounting is not a good method.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for conveying and holding a plate-like member,wherein the plate-like member can be carried in to a conveying positionand then moved to a desired work position to perform a desired workefficiently while being held irrespective of the size of the plate-likemember and, after the desired work, can be moved to a conveying positionand carried out so that the plate-like member is carried in, held, andcarried out efficiently and rapidly, and thus the above issue is solved.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a component mountingapparatus equipped with the plate-like member conveying/holding deviceas a board conveying/holding device, wherein the moving distances of acomponent holding member between component holding, componentrecognition, and component mounting can be reduced irrespective of thesize of the board to shorten the mounting time and thereby improvemounting efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has thefollowing constitutions.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for conveying and holding a plate-like member, comprising:

a first rail-like holding member and a second rail-like holding member,each including a conveying member for conveying the plate-like member sothat the plate-like member can be carried in and out and held;

a ball screw shaft which extends in a direction perpendicular to alongitudinal direction of the first rail-like holding member and thesecond rail-like holding member and moves the second rail-like holdingmember or moves the first rail-like holding member and second rail-likeholding member in parallel;

a rotation drive unit which drives rotation of the ball screw shaft;

a first nut which is attached rotatably relative to the first rail-likeholding member and screw-threaded with the screw shaft;

a second nut which is fixedly attached to the second rail-like holdingmember and screw-threaded with the screw shaft; and

a selective lock mechanism which can alternatively select an operationof engaging with the first nut of the first rail-like holding member tostop rotation of the first nut and an operation of releasing theengagement with the first nut of the first rail-like holding member toallow the first nut to rotate relative to the first rail-like holdingmember.

After the selective lock mechanism releases the engagement with thefirst nut of the first rail-like holding member to allow the first nutto rotate relative to the first rail-like holding member, only thesecond rail-like holding member is moved by rotating the screw shaft,and a position of the second rail-like holding member relative to thefirst rail-like holding member is changed, while, after the selectivelock mechanism is engaged with the first nut of the first rail-likeholding member, the first rail-like holding member and the secondrail-like holding member are integrally moved in parallel by rotatingthe screw shaft.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for conveying and holding a plate-like member according to thefirst aspect, wherein the rotation drive unit is one motor for drivingforward and reverse rotation of the screw shaft.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for conveying and holding a plate-like member according to thefirst aspect, wherein the second nut screw-threaded with the screw shaftis not attached fixedly to the second rail-like holding member, butattached rotatably relative to the second rail-like holding member.Meanwhile, the selective lock mechanism can select alternatively anoperation of engaging with the second nut of the second rail-likeholding member to stop rotation of the second nut or an operation ofreleasing engagement with the second nut of the second rail-like holdingmember to allow the second nut to rotate.

The selective lock mechanism releases the engagement with the first nutof the first rail-like holding member to allow the first nut to rotaterelative to the first rail-like holding member and then rotates thescrew shaft to move only the second rail-like holding member relative tothe first rail-like holding member, or the selective lock mechanismreleases the engagement with the second nut of the second rail-likeholding member to allow the second nut to rotate relative to the secondrail-like holding member and then rotates the screw shaft to move onlythe first rail-like holding member relative to the second rail-likeholding member so that a gap distance between the first rail-likeholding member and the second rail-like holding member is changed.Meanwhile, the selective lock mechanism engages with the first nut ofthe first rail-like holding member and the second nut of the secondrail-like holding member and then rotates the screw shaft so that thefirst rail-like holding member and the second rail-like holding memberare integrally moved in parallel.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for conveying and holding a plate-like member according to anyone of the first to third aspects, further comprising a linear guidemechanism which extends in parallel to the screw shaft in a directionperpendicular to an axial direction of each of the rail-like holdingmembers and guides parallel movement of the two rail-like holdingmembers.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for conveying and holding a plate-like member according to anyone of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the selective lock mechanismengages with the first nut of the first rail-like holding member torotate the screw shaft and then the first rail-like holding member andthe second rail-like holding member are integrally moved in parallel sothat, first, the first rail-like holding member is positioned at areference position and then the selective lock mechanism releases theengagement with the first nut of the first rail-like holding member toallow the first nut to rotate relative to the first rail-like holdingmember and then rotates the screw shaft so that only the secondrail-like holding member is moved and a position of the second rail-likeholding member relative to the first rail-like holding member at thereference position is changed to adjust the gap between the firstrail-like holding member and the second rail-like holding member.

Then, the selective lock mechanism engages with the first nut of thefirst rail-like holding member and then rotates the screw shaft so thatthe first rail-like holding member and the second rail-like holdingmember are integrally moved in parallel while the adjusted gap ismaintained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for conveying and holding a plate-like member according to anyone of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a stopper which isbrought into contact with the plate-like member to position and hold theplate-like member at the prescribed position when the plate-like memberis conveyed between the first rail-like holding member and the secondrail-like holding member by the conveying member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a component mounting apparatus equipped with a device forconveying and holding a plate-like member, wherein the plate-like memberis a board onto which components are to be mounted. Two of the devicesfor conveying and holding a plate-like member according to any one ofthe first to sixth aspects are used as board conveying/holding devicesfor conveying and holding the board in the component mounting apparatusfor mounting the components onto the board. A component mounting workarea in the component mounting apparatus, in which the components aremounted, is divided into a first mounting area and a second mountingarea along the board conveying direction, one of the devices forconveying and holding a plate-like member being used as a first boardconveying/holding device in the first mounting area and the other devicefor conveying/holding a plate-like member being used as a second boardconveying and holding device in the second mounting area. Each boardconveying/holding device is independently driven in each mounting area.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a component mounting apparatus equipped with a device forconveying and holding a plate-like member according to the seventhaspect, wherein a first component mounting position of the first boardconveying/holding device in the first mounting area and a secondcomponent mounting position of the second board conveying/holding devicein the second mounting area are disposed in zigzag so as to bediagonally opposed to each other.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda component mounting apparatus equipped with a device for conveying andholding a plate-like member according to the seventh or eighth aspect,wherein a first component feed unit for feeding the components to bemounted onto the board at an end edge portion in the first mounting areaon an opposite side of the second mounting area, and a first componentrecognition unit is disposed in the vicinity of the first component feedunit. A second component feed unit for feeding the components is to bemounted onto the board at an end edge portion in the second mountingarea on an opposite side of the first mounting area, and a secondcomponent recognition unit is disposed in the vicinity of the secondcomponent feed unit.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda component mounting apparatus equipped with a device for conveying andholding a plate-like member according to the ninth aspect, wherein thefirst component feed unit, the first component recognition unit, thesecond component feed unit, and the second component recognition unitare disposed substantially point-symmetrically with respect to a centerof the whole component mounting work area combining the first mountingarea and the second mounting area.

According to an 11th aspect of the present invention, there is provideda component mounting apparatus equipped with a device for conveying andholding a plate-like member according to the ninth or tenth aspect,wherein the first component mounting position of the first boardconveying/holding device in the first mounting area is determined inconsideration to a distance between the first component feed unit andthe first component recognition unit, while the second componentmounting position of the second board conveying/holding device in thesecond mounting area is determined in consideration to a distancebetween the second component feed unit and the second componentrecognition unit.

According to a 12th aspect of the present invention, there is provided acomponent mounting apparatus equipped with a device for conveying andholding a plate-like member according to any one of the ninth to 11thaspects, wherein the first component feed unit and the second componentfeed unit are component feed units for housing taping components to bemounted onto the board, which are the components housed and held in atape.

According to a 13th aspect of the present invention, there is provided acomponent mounting device equipped with a device for conveying andholding a plate-like member according to any one of the seventh to 12thaspects, wherein the first component mounting position of the firstboard conveying/holding device in the first mounting area and the secondcomponent mounting position of the second board conveying/holding devicein the second mounting area are disposed in a zigzag manner so as to bediagonally opposed to each other. A tray-type component feed unit inwhich the components to be mounted onto the board are housed on a tray,is disposed at a position other than the first component mountingposition in the first mounting area, and another tray-type componentfeed unit in which the components to be mounted onto the board arehoused on a tray, is disposed at the second component mounting positionin the second mounting area.

According to a 14th aspect of the present invention, there is provided acomponent mounting apparatus equipped with a device for conveying andholding a plate-like member according to any one of the seventh to 13thaspects, wherein, when the board is conveyed between the first rail-likeholding member and the second rail-like holding member by the conveyingmember, each board conveying/holding device further comprises a stopperwhich is brought into contact with the board and positions and holds theboard in a vicinity of a center of the whole component mounting workarea combining the first mounting area and the second mounting area.

According to a 15th aspect of the present invention, there is provided acomponent mounting apparatus equipped with a device forconveying/holding a plate-like member according to any one of theseventh to 14th aspects, wherein, when the first board conveying/holdingdevice and the second board conveying/holding device are positionedadjacent to each other in one line, the board can be conveyed from thefirst board conveying/holding device towards the second boardconveying/holding device.

According to a 16th aspect of the present invention, there is provided acomponent mounting apparatus equipped with a device for conveying andholding a plate-like member according to any one of the seventh to 14thaspects, further comprising a loader for carrying the board into eachboard conveying/holding device and an unloader for carrying the boardout from each board conveying/holding device, wherein the first boardconveying/holding device and the second board conveying/holding devicecan independently perform carrying-in of the board from the loader andcarrying-out the board to the unloader, respectively.

According to a 17th aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for conveying and holding a plate-like member, wherein, when aball screw shaft disposed to extend in a direction perpendicular to alongitudinal direction of a first rail-like holding member and a secondrail-like holding member rotates in a plate-like memberconveying/holding device equipped with the first rail-like holdingmember and the second rail-like holding member, which can carry in andout and hold a plate-like member, rotation of a nut which isscrew-threaded to the ball screw shaft and attached to each of the firstrail-like holding member and the second rail-like holding member isregulated so that the first rail-like holding member and the secondrail-like holding member are integrally moved in parallel to convey theplate-like member.

Regulation of rotation of the nut of either one rail-like holding memberof the first rail-like holding member and the second rail-like holdingmember is released so that the nut is rotated together with the ballscrew shaft upon rotation of the ball screw shaft. Movement of the onerail-like holding member is regulated and the other rail-like holdingmember of the first rail-like holding member and the second rail-likeholding member, of which rotation of the nut is regulated, is movedduring rotation of the ball screw shaft so that only the other rail-likeholding member is moved in parallel with respect to the one rail-likeholding member to adjust a gap between the first rail-like holdingmember and the second rail-like holding member.

According to an 18th aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for mounting components, comprising:

carrying in a board from a loader to a first board conveying/holdingdevice by the loader and the first board conveying/holding device;

moving the first board conveying/holding device holding the carried-inboard to a side of one component feed unit;

mounting components in the one component feed unit onto the board heldby the first board conveying/holding device;

carrying the board carried from the first board conveying/holding deviceto a second board conveying/holding device by the firstconveying/holding device and the second board conveying/holding device;

moving the second board conveying/holding device holding the carried-inboard to a side of the other component feed unit;

mounting components in the other component feed unit onto the board heldby the second board conveying/holding device;

carrying the board from the second board conveying/holding device to anunloader by the second board conveying/holding device and the unloader.

According to a 19th aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for mounting components according to the 18th aspect, wherein thecomponent mounting in the first board conveying/holding device and thecomponent mounting in the second board conveying/holding device aresimultaneously performed.

According to a 20th aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for mounting components according to the 18th aspect, wherein,while the board conveyance from the loader to the first boardconveying/holding device, the board conveyance from the first boardconveying/holding device to the second board conveying/holding device,and the board conveyance from the second board conveying/holding deviceto the unloader are performed on a board conveyance path in one line.The one component feed unit and the other component feed unit areopposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to an extendingdirection of the board conveyance path. The components are mounted on ahalf area of the board on a side of the one component feed unit in thefirst board conveying/holding device and the components are mounted on ahalf area of the board on a side of the other component feed unit in thesecond board conveying/holding device.

According to a 21st aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for mounting components according to the 18th aspect, wherein theboard conveyance from the loader to the first board conveying/holdingdevice, the board conveyance from the first board conveying/holdingdevice to the second board conveying/holding device, and the boardconveyance from the second board conveying/holding device to theunloader are simultaneously performed.

According to a 22nd aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork device for a plate-like member, comprising:

a first plate-like member conveying/holding device which can carry inand out a plate-like member at a plate-like member conveying positionand hold the carried-in plate-like member;

a second plate-like member conveying/holding device which can beadjacent to the first plate-like member conveying/holding device at theplate-like member conveying position, carry in the plate-like member bythe first plate-like member conveying/holding device via the firstplate-like member conveying holding device, hold the carried-inplate-like member carried in by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device, and carry out the held plate-like member atthe plate-like member conveying position;

a first moving device for moving the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device in a direction crossing the plate-like memberconveying direction between the plate-like member conveying position anda first work position at which a prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the first plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice; and

a second moving device for moving the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device in a direction crossing the plate-like memberconveying direction between the plate-like member conveying position anda second work position at which a prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice.

The plate-like member is carried in and held by the first plate-likemember conveying/holding device positioned at the plate-like memberconveying/holding position by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device, the first plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice is moved to the first work position by the first moving device,and the prescribed work is performed for the plate-like member held bythe first plate-like member conveying/holding device. The plate-likemember held by the first plate-like member conveying/holding device iscarried in from the first plate-like member conveying/holding devicepositioned at the plate-like member conveying/holding position to thesecond plate-like member conveying/holding device positioned at aposition adjacent to the first plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice by the first plate-like member conveying/holding device thesecond plate-like member conveying/holding device and held by the secondplate-like member conveying/holding device. The second plate-like memberconveying/holding device is moved to the second work position by thesecond moving device, and the prescribed work is performed to theplate-like member held by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice.

The plate-like member held by the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device is carried out from the second plate-likemember conveying/holding device at the plate-like memberconveying/holding position by the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device.

According to a 23rd aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork device for a plate-like member according to the 22nd aspect,wherein a work area of the work device is divided into two, a first workarea and a second work area, assuming the plate-like member conveyingdirection at the plate-like member conveying position as a border.During work for the plate-like member, the first moving device moves thefirst plate-like member conveying/holding device to the first workposition in the first work area in which the prescribed work isperformed for the plate-like member held by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device, while the second moving device moves thesecond plate-like member conveying/holding device to the second workposition in the second work area in which the prescribed work isperformed for the plate-like member held by the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device.

According to a 24th aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork device for a plate-like member according to the 22nd or 23rdaspect, wherein the plate-like member is a board onto which componentsare to be mounted, the work device for performing the work for theplate-like member is a component mounting apparatus for mounting thecomponents onto the board and the first and second plate-like memberconveying/holding devices are first and second board conveying/holdingdevice.

A component mounting work area in the component mounting apparatus, inwhich the components are mounted, is divided into a first mounting areaand a second mounting area along a board conveying direction. The firstboard conveying/holding device can be moved to a first componentmounting position as the first work position in the first mounting areaby the first moving device, while the second board conveying/holdingdevice can be moved to a second component mounting position as thesecond work position in the second mounting area by the second movingdevice. The components are independently mounted onto a board held byeach board conveying/holding device in each mounting area.

According to a 25th aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork device for a plate-like member according to the 24th aspect,wherein a first component feed unit for feeding the components to bemounted onto the board is disposed at an end edge portion in the firstmounting area on an opposite side of the second mounting area, and afirst component recognition unit is disposed in a vicinity of the firstcomponent feed unit and on a side of the first work position. The workdevice further comprises a working head which can move in the firstmounting area, holds the components from the first component feed unit,and mounts the components onto the board held by the first boardconveying/holding device positioned at the first component mountingposition after the components are recognized by the first componentrecognition unit.

A second component feed unit for feeding the components to be mountedonto the board is disposed at an end edge portion in the second mountingarea on an opposite side of the first mounting area, and a secondcomponent recognition unit is disposed in a vicinity of the secondcomponent feed unit and on a side of the second work position. The workdevice further comprises a working head which can move in the secondmounting area, holds the components from the second component feed unit,and mounts the components onto the board held by the second boardconveying/holding device positioned at the second component mountingposition after the components are recognized by the second componentrecognition unit.

According to a 26th aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork method for a plate-like member, comprising:

while a first plate-like member conveying/holding device which can carryin and out and hold a plate-like member, and a second plate-like memberconveying/holding device which can carry in and out and hold aplate-like member, are positioned adjacent to each other at a plate-likemember conveying position, carrying the plate-like member into the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device by the first plate-likemember conveying/holding device, carrying in and holding the carried-inplate-like member by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice via the first plate-like member conveying/holding device by thefirst plate-like member conveying/holding device, and carrying in andholding a subsequent plate-like member by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device;

moving the first plate-like member conveying/holding device from theplate-like member conveying position to a first work position in adirection crossing a plate-like member conveying direction, and movingthe second plate-like member conveying/holding device from theplate-like member conveying position to a second work position in adirection crossing the plate-like member conveying direction;

performing a prescribed work for the plate-like member held by the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device at the first work position,and performing a prescribed work for the plate-like member held by thesecond plate-like member conveying/holding device at the second workposition;

moving the first plate-like member conveying/holding device from thefirst work position to the plate-like member conveying position in adirection crossing to the plate-like member conveying direction, whilemoving the second plate-like member conveying/holding device from thesecond work position to the plate-like member conveying position in adirection crossing to the plate-like member conveying direction; and

while the first plate-like member conveying/holding device and thesecond plate-like member conveying/holding device are positionedadjacent to each other at the plate-like member conveying position,carrying out the plate-like member held by the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device from the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device by the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device, while carrying out the plate-like member heldby the first plate-like member conveying/holding device from the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device to the second plate-likemember conveying/holding device by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device and the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device.

According to a 27th aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork method for a plate-like member according to the 26th aspect,wherein, when a work area of the work device is divided into two, afirst work area and a second work area assuming the plate-like memberconveying direction at the plate-like member conveying position as aborder and the plate-like member conveying/holding devices are moved tothe work positions.

The first plate-like member conveying/holding device is moved to thefirst work position in the first work area, in which the prescribed workis performed for the plate-like member held by the first plate-likemember conveying/holding device, while the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device is moved to the second work position in thesecond work area, in which the prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice.

According to a 28th aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork method for a plate-like member according to the 26th or 27thaspect, wherein, when the plate-like member is a board onto whichcomponents are to be mounted, the work device for performing the workfor the plate-like member is a component mounting apparatus for mountingthe components onto the board, the first and second plate-like memberconveying/holding devices are first and second board conveying/holdingdevices, and a component mounting work area in the component mountingapparatus, in which components are mounted is divided into a firstmounting area and a second mounting area along a board conveyingdirection.

The first board conveying/holding device can be moved to a firstcomponent mounting position as the first work position in the firstmounting area, while the second board conveying/holding device can bemoved to a second component mounting position as the second workposition in the second mounting area by the second moving device, andcomponents are independently mounted onto a board held by each boardconveying/holding device in each mounting area.

According to a 29th aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork method for a plate-like member according to the 28th aspect,wherein, in the first mounting area, the components are held by aworking head from a first component feed unit installed at an end edgeportion on an opposite side of the second mounting area in the firstmounting area during the prescribed work. After the components held bythe working head are recognized by a first component recognition unitdisposed in a vicinity of the first component feed unit and on a side ofthe first work position, the components held by the working head aremounted onto the first board conveying/holding device positioned at thefirst component mounting position.

While independent from the above component holding, componentrecognition, and component mounting, in the second mounting area, thecomponents are held by a working head from a second component feed unitinstalled at an end edge portion on an opposite side of the secondmounting area in the second mounting area. After the components held bythe working head are recognized by a second component recognition unitdisposed in a vicinity of the second component feed unit and on a sideof the second work position, the components held by the working head aremounted onto the second board conveying/holding device positioned at thesecond component mounting position.

According to a 30th aspect of the present invention, there is provided awork method for a plate-like member according to the 28th aspect,wherein the plate-like member is held across both the first and secondplate-like member conveying/holding devices, and the first and secondplate-like member conveying/holding devices are synchronously moved inparallel to either one of the first mounting area and the secondmounting area to mount the components.

According to a 31st aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for mounting components according to the 18th aspect, wherein,while the board conveyance from the loader to the first boardconveying/holding device, the board conveyance from the first boardconveying/holding device to the second board conveying/holding device,and the board conveyance from the second board conveying/holding deviceto the unloader are performed on a board conveyance path in one line,the one component feed unit and the other component feed unit areopposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to an extendingdirection of the board conveyance path and each component recognitionunit is disposed in a vicinity of each component feed unit on a side ofthe board conveyance path. The component mounting of the first boardconveying/holding device is performed by holding the components from theone component feed unit, recognizing them by the component recognitionunit disposed in the vicinity of the one component feed unit on the sideof the board conveyance path, and then mounting them on a half area onthe side of the one component feed unit of the board held by the firstboard conveying/holding device in the first board conveying/holdingdevice. Component mounting of the second board conveying/holding deviceis performed by holding the components from the other component feedunit, recognizing them by the component recognition unit disposed in thevicinity of the other component feed unit on the side of the boardconveyance path, and then mounting them on a half area of the board onthe side of the other component feed unit of the board held by thesecond board conveying/holding device in the second boardconveying/holding device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and features of the present invention willbecome clear from the following description taken in conjunction withthe preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general schematic perspective view showing a componentmounting apparatus having a board conveying/holding device according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a general schematic layout plan of the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a general detail plan view showing the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail plan view showing the board conveying/holding deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail right side view showing the board conveying/holdingdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the board conveying/holding deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a detail enlarged right side view showing a selective lockmechanism of the board conveying/holding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a detail front view showing the board conveying/holding deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an operation of conveying a boardby two board conveying/holding devices in the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing operations of returning to theorigin and mounting of support rail units in the board conveying/holdingdevices in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an initial state of the supportrail units of the board conveying/holding devices in the componentmounting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an operation of returning to theorigins of support rail units on the locked sides of the boardconveying/holding devices in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an operation of returning to theorigins of support rail units on the always moved sides of the boardconveying/holding devices in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an operation of adjusting thesupport rail units on the always moved sides of the boardconveying/holding devices in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1according to the board width;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a state of the support rail unitsof the board conveying/holding devices in the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1 when a board is being conveyed;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a state of the support rail unitsof the board conveying/holding devices in the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1 when components are being mounted;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a state of the support rail unitsof the board conveying/holding devices in the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1 during maintenance thereof, replacement of supportpins or support plates, or change of nozzles;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing a state of the support rail unitsof the board conveying/holding devices in the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1 when a mounting operation is completed;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a state of the support rail unitsof the respective board conveying/holding devices in the componentmounting apparatus of FIG. 1 when boards are carried out after thecompletion of the mounting operation;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a state of the support rail unitsof the respective board conveying/holding devices in the componentmounting apparatus of FIG. 1 when boards are carried in;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a state of the support rail unitsof the board conveying/holding devices in the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 1 when mounting of components is started aftercompletion of carrying-in of the boards;

FIG. 22 is a timing chart of a board conveying operation in a firstboard conveying/holding device in the component mounting apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is a timing chart of a board conveying operation in a secondboard conveying/holding device in the component mounting apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a schematic right side view showing a state of the boardconveying/holding devices in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1when components are being mounted as shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 25 is a schematic right side view showing a state of the boardconveying/holding device in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1when the support rail unit is returned to the origin as shown in FIG.13;

FIG. 26 is a schematic right side view showing a state of the boardconveying/holding device in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1during the maintenance in FIG. 17;

FIG. 27 is a timing chart of the support rail unit of each of the boardconveying/holding devices in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1when the support rail unit is returned to the origin and adjustedaccording to the board width;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a connection relationship of acontrol unit to respective drive units and sensors in the componentmounting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing a component mounting apparatus accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a state of the component mountingapparatus of FIG. 29 during component mounting;

FIG. 31 is a plan view showing a state of a first boardconveying/holding device in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 29when boards are being replaced;

FIG. 32 is a plan view showing a state of a second boardconveying/holding device in the component mounting apparatus of FIG. 29when boards are being replaced;

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing a component mounting apparatus accordingto yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing a modification of a boardconveying/holding device in a component mounting apparatus according tothe yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a plan view of a conventional component mounting apparatus;and

FIG. 36 is a general schematic layout plan of a component mountingapparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to benoted that like parts are designated by like reference numeralsthroughout the accompanying drawings.

In a component mounting apparatus equipped with a plate-like memberconveying/holding device and a method therefor according to a firstembodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,components are mounted onto a board 2 onto which components are mounted(a board referred to irrespective of its position is designated byreference numeral 2, while boards at specific positions are designatedby reference numerals 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 or the like) as an example of aplate-like member. A case where this embodiment is applied to such aboard conveying/holding device and a method for holding the board 2 isexplained below.

The component mounting apparatus is outlined first before beingexplained in detail.

In the above component mounting apparatus, in a component mounting workarea in one component mounting apparatus, two electronic circuit boards2 are diagonally disposed in a zigzag manner so as to be opposed to eachother. Components can be mounted independently on the respective boards.Therefore, two sets of working heads, drive units thereof, boardconveying/holding devices, recognition cameras, and so forth aredisposed. Furthermore, the board conveying/holding device holding theelectronic circuit board 2 is moved to a position closer to a componentfeed unit in each mounting area to mount components. The reference foradjusting the board conveying/holding device according to the width ofthe board 2 (distance adjustment according to the board width) in afront-side mounting area closer to an operator of the two dividedcomponent mounting work areas is an edge portion on the front side,while that of the other mounting area, which is further from theoperator, is an edge portion on the rear side. Consequently, themounting time can be shortened by minimizing the movement distance ofthe working head from component feeding, component recognition tocomponent mounting. Board 2 carried into the respective boardconveying/holding devices are once positioned in a central portion andthen the board on the board conveying/holding device on the right handside in FIG. 2 is positioned to the left, while the board on the boardconveying/holding device on the left side is positioned to the right sothat the mounting movement distance can be reduced and thus the time canbe shortened. Furthermore, when the two boards 2, 2 are positioned in azigzag manner so as to be diagonally opposed to each other, two trayfeed units can be disposed in a zigzag manner so as to be diagonallyopposed to each other. Therefore, the successively disposed number ofcassette feed units does not need to be reduced and the tray feed unitand the recognition position can be positioned closely, therebyshortening the mounting time. Thus, this mounting apparatus has variousadvantages.

A constitution of the component mounting apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention is explained in detail withreference to FIGS. 1 to 9. Through these figures, like component membersare designated by like reference numerals.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a general schematic perspective view and a plan view,respectively, showing an electronic component mounting apparatus in theabove embodiment of the present invention. A component mounting workarea 200 of the mounting apparatus is divided into two areas, a firstmounting area 201 and a second mounting area 202, in a plate-like memberconveying direction at a board conveying position, that is, dividedassuming a component conveyance path as a border. In FIGS. 1 and 2,reference numeral 1 denotes a loader, which is disposed on the boardcarrying-in side of the component mounting work area 200, and the loadercarries an electronic circuit board 2 into the component conveyance pathon the component mounting work area 200, in which the first mountingarea 201 and the second mounting area 202 are disposed adjacent to eachother. Reference numeral 11 is an unloader, which is disposed on theboard carrying-out side of the component conveyance path on thecomponent mounting work area 200 and carries the electronic circuitboard 2 out from the component conveyance path on the component mountingwork area 200, in which the first mounting area 201 and the secondmounting area 202 are disposed adjacent to each other. In the electroniccomponent mounting apparatus of the above embodiment, various componentmembers are positioned point-symmetrically with respect to a centralpoint 102 of the component mounting work area 200 (see FIG. 10) asdescribed below.

That is, reference numeral 3 denotes a first board conveying/holdingdevice equipped with a pair of support rail units 21, 22 (when supportrail units are referred to irrespective of their positioned, referencenumerals 21, 22 are used while reference numerals 21-1, 21-2, 22-1 and22-2 are used for support rail units at specific positions) forconveying and holding the electronic circuit board 2 carried in from theloader 1 at the board conveying position. Reference numeral 4 denotes aworking head, to which a plurality of, for example, ten componentsuction nozzles 10 for sucking and holding an electronic component arereplaceably attached in the first mounting area 201. Reference numeral 5denotes an XY robot, which positions the working head 4 in the firstmounting area 201 at a prescribed position in X-Y directions, which aretwo directions perpendicular to each other in the first mounting area201. Reference numeral 7 denotes a nozzle station, which is disposed inthe vicinity of a component feed unit 8A described later in the firstmounting area 201, houses a plurality of kinds of nozzles 10 suitablefor a plurality of kinds of electronic components and replaces thesenozzles with nozzles 10 attached to the working head 4 as required.Reference numerals 8A, 8B denote component feed units, which arepositioned at an end portion on the front side of the operator withrespect to the first mounting area 201, that is, in front of theoperator, and house taping components, which are components housed andheld in a tape and are to be mounted on the board 2. Reference numeral8C denotes a component feed unit, which is disposed in the vicinity ofthe component feed unit 8B in the first mounting area 201 and housestray components, which are components housed and held on a tray and areto be mounted on the board 2. Reference numeral 9 denotes a recognitioncamera, which is disposed on the side closer to the center of thecomponent mounting work area in the vicinity of the component feed unit8A in the first mounting area 201 and picks up an image of a suctionattitude of an electronic component sucked by the nozzle 10 of theworking head 4. Reference numeral 9 a in FIG. 3 denotes atwo-dimensional camera in the recognition camera 9. Reference numeral 9b denotes a three-dimensional camera in the recognition camera 9.

Meanwhile, reference numeral 13 denotes a second board conveying/holdingdevice equipped with a pair of support rail units 21, 22 for conveyingand holding the electronic circuit board 2 carried in from the firstboard conveying/holding device 3 in the first mounting area 201.Reference numeral 14 denotes a working head, to which a plurality of,for example, ten component suction nozzles 20 for sucking and holding anelectronic component are replaceably attached in the second mountingarea 202. Reference numeral 15 denotes an XY robot, which positions theworking head 14 in the second mounting area 202 at a prescribed positionin X-Y directions, which are two directions perpendicular to each otherin the second mounting area 202. Reference numeral 17 denotes a nozzlestation, which is disposed in the vicinity of a component feed unit 18Adescribed later in the second mounting area 202, houses a plurality ofkinds of nozzles 20 suitable for a plurality of kinds of electroniccomponents and replaces these nozzles with nozzles 20 attached to theworking head 14 as required. Reference numerals 18A, 18B denotecomponent feed units, which are positioned at an end portion on the sidefurthest from the operator of the second mounting area 202, that is, inthe rear side with respect to the operator, and house taping components,which are components housed and held in a tape and are to be mounted onthe board 2. Reference numeral 18C denotes a component feed unit, whichis disposed in the vicinity of the component feed unit 18B in the secondmounting area 202 and houses tray components, which are componentshoused and held on a tray and are to be mounted on the board 2.Reference numeral 19 denotes a recognition camera, which is disposed onthe side closer to the center of the component mounting work in thevicinity of the component feed unit 18A in the second mounting area 202area and picks up an image of a suction attitude of an electroniccomponent sucked by the nozzle 20 of the working head 14. Referencenumeral 19 a in FIG. 3 denotes a two-dimensional camera in therecognition camera 19. Reference numeral 19 b denotes athree-dimensional camera in the recognition camera 19.

There is further included a first moving device composed of a ball screwshaft 35, first nut 27, second nut 48, motor 40 for moving a supportrail unit, selective lock mechanism 70, and so forth, which aredescribed later. The first board conveying/holding device 3 is moved bythe first moving device in a direction crossing the board 2 conveyingdirection between the board conveying position and a first workposition, at which a prescribed work for the board 2 held by the firstboard conveying/holding device 3, for example, component mounting, isperformed in the first mounting area 201, for example, a first componentmounting position. There is also included a second moving devicecomposed of a ball screw shaft 35, first nut 27, second nut 48, motor 40for moving support rail unit, selective lock mechanism 70, and so forth,which are described later. The second board conveying/holding device 13is moved by the second moving device in a direction crossing the board 2conveying direction between the board conveying position and a secondwork position, at which a prescribed work for the board 2 held by thesecond board conveying/holding device 13, for example, componentmounting, is performed in the second mounting area 202, for example, asecond component mounting position.

The XY robot 5, 15 is constituted as follows. Two Y-axis drive units 6a, 6 a of an XY robot device 6 are fixed and disposed at front and rearend edges in the board conveying direction of the component mountingwork area 200 on a mounting apparatus base 16. Two X-axis drive units 6b, 6 c are disposed across these two Y-axis drive units 6 a, 6 a so asto move independently in the Y-axis direction and avoid collision.Furthermore, the working head 4 for moving in the first mounting area201 is disposed in the X-axis drive unit 6 b movably in the X-axisdirection. The working head 14 for moving in the second mounting area202 is disposed in the X-axis drive unit 6 c movably in the X-axisdirection. Therefore, the XY robot 5 is constituted by the two Y-axisdrive units 6 a, 6 a fixed to the mounting apparatus base 16, the X-axisdrive unit 6 b movable in the Y-axis direction on the Y-axis drive units6 a, 6 a, and the working head 4 movable in the X-axis direction in theX-axis drive unit 6 b. The XY robot 15 is constituted by the two Y-axisdrive units 6 a, 6 a fixed to the mounting apparatus base 16, the X-axisdrive unit 6 c movable in the Y-axis direction on the Y-axis drive units6 a, 6 a, and the working head 14 movable in the X-axis direction in theX-axis drive unit 6 c.

The above embodiment of the present invention is characterized by, firstof all, the structure of the first and second board conveying/holdingdevices 3, 13 equipped with the front and rear support rail units 21,22, respectively. The first and second board conveying/holding devices3, 13 have exactly the same structure, except that the first boardconveying/holding device 3 and the second board conveying/holding device13 are positioned point-symmetrically with respect to the central point102 of the component mounting work area 200. Therefore, the structure ofeach board conveying/holding device is explained below with reference toFIGS. 4 to 8.

In FIGS. 4 to 8, reference numerals 21, 22 denote a pair of support railunits, which extend along the X direction, and are each equipped with abelt 500 for conveying and holding a board, and convey and hold anelectronic circuit board 2. The front-side support rail unit 21 of thepair of support rail units 21, 22 functions as a support rail unit onthe reference side when the distance between the support rail units 21,22 is adjusted (distance adjustment according to the board width)according to the width of board 2, that is, the locked side. The rearside support rail unit 22 functions as a support rail unit on the movedside, which is moved according to the width of the board 2. Furthermore,in FIGS. 4 to 8, reference numeral 23 denotes a linear guide member,which is disposed in the vicinity of both left and right end portions ofthe board conveying/holding device 3, 13 in FIG. 6 and extends in adirection (Y direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Xdirection) of the support rail units 21, 22. Reference numeral 24denotes a front side slider, which is disposed at each lower end portionof a left end support pole 21 a and a support pole 21 b in the vicinityof a right end of the front side support rail unit 21 in FIG. 6, andmoves linearly on each linear guide member 23 to guide so that thesupport rail unit 21 can move in parallel along the Y direction.Reference numeral 25 denotes a rear side slider, which is disposed ateach lower end portion of a left end support pole 22 a and a supportpole 22 b in the vicinity of a right end of the rear side support railunit 22 in FIG. 6, and moves linearly on each linear guide member 23 toguide so that the support rail unit 22 can move in parallel along the Ydirection. Reference numeral 35 denotes a ball screw shaft, which isdisposed above each linear guide member 23 in the vicinity of both leftand right end portions of the board conveying/holding device 3, 13 inFIGS. 4 and 6 and extends in a direction (Y direction) perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction (X direction) of the support rail units 21,22, and both ends of the ball screws shaft 35 are rotatably supported bya board conveying device base 44. Reference numeral 40 denotes a motorfor moving a support rail unit, which drives rotation of the ball screwshaft 35 in the forward and reverse rotation directions. The linearguide member 23, the front side slider 24, and the rear slider 25constitute a linear guide mechanism. Reference numeral 27 denotes a nut,which is rotatably attached to each end portion of the support pole 21 aat the left end of the support rail unit 21 and the support pole 21 b inthe vicinity of the right end via each bearing 47 as shown in FIG. 7,and is screw-threaded with the ball screw shaft 35. The nut 27 rotatesintegrally with a sleeve 46 while the whole body thereof is covered withthe sleeve 46 from outside with the nut 27 disabling relative rotationand is rotatably supported at the bearing 47 by the sleeve 46. A gear 28is fixed to one end portion in the axial direction of the sleeve 46.Reference numeral 30 denotes a cylinder for a selective lock mechanism,which is attached to each support pole 21 a, 21 b of the support railunit 21 and moves a piston rod up and down. A rack gear 29 engagablewith the gear 28 is fixed to an upper end of the piston rod of thecylinder 30 for the selective lock mechanism. When the piston rod risesand is positioned at the upper end position, the rack gear 29 is engagedwith the gear 28 to stop rotation of the nut 27. On the other hand, whenthe piston rod lowers and is positioned at the lower end position, a pin43 at the lower end of the piston rod penetrates the cylinder 30downwards and is engaged with a hole 45 of the board conveying devicebase 44 to fix the support rail unit 21 at the position and disable itsmovement. The hole 45 of the board conveying device base 44 is providedonly at a position at which each pin 43 can be inserted when the supportrail unit 21 is positioned at the position of the origin P21 as anexample of a reference position (the position of the support rail unit21 shown with a dotted line in FIG. 6). A pulley 92, 91 is connected tothe left and right ball screw shafts 35, 35, while a belt 90 is placedacross these pulleys 92, 91 so that the left and right ball screw shafts35, 35 rotate in the same direction synchronously by a rotation drive ofthe motor 40, via the pulleys 92, 91 and the belt 90. When each ballscrew shaft 35 rotates, the nut 27, which is rotatably supported by thebearing 47 and screw-threaded with each ball screw shaft 35, alsorotates. Thus, while the nut 27 is rotating, no force along the Y-axisdirection acts on the front-side support rail unit 21. Therefore, thefront-side support rail unit 21 is not moved in the Y-axis direction. Onthe other hand, when the cylinder 30 is driven to raise the piston rodand thereby the rack gear 29 is engaged with the gear 28, rotation ofthe nut 27 is regulated via the gear 28 and the sleeve 46. Therefore, aforce along the Y-axis direction acts on the nut 27 in response torotation of each ball screw shaft 35, and the front-side support railunit 21 is moved in the Y-axis direction. Thus, each selective lockmechanism 70 is constituted by the gear 28, the rack gear 29, and thecylinder 30. As a result, the front-side support rail unit 21 is movedin parallel in the Y-axis direction when the rack gears 29, 29 areengaged with the gears 28, 28 by the left and right selective lockmechanisms 70, 70 to stop the rotation of the nuts 27, 27. On the otherhand, when the piston rod of the cylinder 30 is lowered by the selectivelock mechanism 70, 70 and positioned at the lower end position, the pin43 at the lower end of the piston rod penetrates the cylinder 30downwards. When the support rail unit 21 is positioned at the originposition P21, the pin 43 is engaged with the hole 45 of the boardconveying device base 44. Thus, the front-side support rail unit 21 isfixed so that the support rail unit 21 cannot be moved from the originposition P21. When engagement of the rack gear 29, 29 and the gear 28,28 is released to allow the rotation of the nut 27, 27, the front-sidesupport rail unit 21 is not moved along the Y-axis direction but is keptat the position. Therefore, the distance between one pair of the supportrail units 21, 22 is adjusted according to the width of the board 2, andthe front-side support rail unit 21 is not moved along the Y-axisdirection by the selective lock mechanism 70, 70 of the support railunit 21 but is kept at the position. Thus, the front-side support railunit 21 can function as a support rail unit 21 on the reference side,that is, the locked side.

On the other hand, reference numeral 48 denotes a nut, which is providedrotatably via each bearing 49 at each of lower end portions of a supportpole 22 a at a left end of the rear-side support rail unit 22 and asupport pole 22 b in the vicinity of a right end thereof andscrew-threaded with the ball screw shaft 35 as shown in FIG. 7. Each nut48 rotates integrally with a sleeve 50 disabling relative rotation whilethe whole body thereof is covered with the sleeve 50 from outside and issupported rotatably at the bearing 48 by sleeve 50. A gear 51 is fixedat one end portion of each sleeve 50 in the axial direction. The gear51, 51 is connected to each lower end portion of the support pole 22 aat the left end of the rear-side support rail unit 22 and the supportpole 22 b in the vicinity of the right end thereof by a bracket 52, 52.Therefore, when the ball screw shafts 35, 35 rotate the rear-sidesupport rail unit 22 is guided by the linear guide members 23, 23 andthe sliders 24, 24 and can be moved in parallel along the Y-axisdirection.

Furthermore, reference numeral 99 denotes a belt drive shaft, whichextends along the Y-axis direction, and which is provided to eachsupport rail unit 21, 22 in the longitudinal direction thereof anddrives a belt 500 for placing and conveying a board 2 via a pulley orthe like synchronously in the forward and reverse directions. Referencenumeral 42 denotes a belt drive motor, which drives the belt 500 forplacing and conveying the board 2 synchronously in the forward andbackward directions by driving forward and reverse rotation of the beltdrive shafts 99.

Furthermore, the board conveying device base 44 on the right side isequipped with a front-side limit position detecting sensor 400 fordetecting a front-side limit position of the front-side support railunit 21, a front-side origin position detecting sensor 401 for detectingthe origin position P21 of the front-side support rail unit 21, acollision avoiding sensor 406 for stopping the rear-side support railunit 22 from approaching the front-side support rail unit 21 so as toprevent a collision of the front-side support rail unit 21 and therear-side support rail unit 22 when a dog 407 projected from the supportpole 22 b in the vicinity of the right end of the rear-side support railunit 22 is detected, a rear-side origin position detecting sensor 404for detecting the origin position P22 as an example of the referenceposition of the rear-side support rail unit 22, and a rear-side limitposition detecting sensor 405 for detecting the rear-side limit positionof the rear-side support rail unit 22. All of these sensors 400, 401,406, 404, 405 are connected to a control unit 1000 to input theirrespective detection results thereinto.

On the support rail unit 21, a board passage detecting sensor 31 fordetecting passage of an electronic circuit board 2 is disposed at aright end portion, that is, at an end portion on the loader 1 side. Aboard stopper 32 for stopping the electronic circuit board 2 at aprescribed position is disposed at a left end portion, that is, at anend portion on the unloader 11 side. A board arrival detecting sensor 33for detecting the approach and arrival of the electronic circuit board 2at the prescribed position in the board conveying direction from theloader 1 towards the unloader 11 side is provided in the vicinity of theboard stopper 32. As shown in FIG. 9, a cylinder 32D for the boardstopper drive has an upper end position detecting sensor S32 fordetecting an upper end position of the piston rod. The board stopper 32is positioned at the raised position and kept in contact with the board2 while components are being mounted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the support plate drive cylinder 39 has an upperlimit position detecting sensor S39U for detecting an upper limitposition of the piston rod and a lower limit position detecting sensorS39L for detecting a lower limit position thereof.

To mount electronic components on an electronic circuit board 2 in highquality, the board 2 needs to be supported from the lower direction.Accordingly, the board conveying/holding device has a support plate 38which is equal to the maximum-size board in size or larger and can bemoved up and down. The required number of support pins 87 are providedon the support plate 38. The support plate 38 is raised by the supportplate drive cylinder 39. The lower surface of the electronic circuitboard 2 is supported by the support pins 87, and the board 2 isinterposed between the support rail units 21, 22 at both side portionsthereof and held at a prescribed position.

As shown in FIG. 28, each of the sensors and the drive units isconnected to the control unit 1000. Drive of each drive unit iscontrolled based on a prescribed mounting program. That is, thoseconnected to the control unit 1000 include at least the board passagedetecting sensor 31 (31-1, 31-2), board arrival detecting sensor 33(33-1, 33-2), upper limit position detecting sensor S39U of the supportplate drive cylinder 39, lower limit position detecting sensor S39L ofthe support plate drive cylinder 39, front-side limit position detectingsensor 400, front-side origin position detecting sensor 401, collisionavoiding sensor 406, rear-side origin position detecting sensor 404,rear-side limit position detecting sensor 405, recognition camera 9, 19,XY robot 5, 15, working head 4, 14, loader 1, unloader 11, motor 40 formoving support rail units, belt drive motor 42, board stopper drivecylinder 32D, support plate drive cylinder 39, cylinder 30 for selectivelock mechanism, database 1001 for storing information related tomounting operations or the like such as information about the size of aboard onto which components are to be mounted or the like, informationabout the shape, height, and so forth of the components, informationabout positions at which the components to be mounted are to be mountedonto the board, mounting order, or the like, the shape of a componentsuction nozzle, information about the board conveying position of eachsupport rail unit or the like, and operation unit 1002 for performingdesired operations and so forth.

Operations of the electronic component mounting apparatus of the aboveembodiment constituted as above are explained with reference tooperation explanatory views in FIGS. 10 to 17 and a timing chart in FIG.27. The electronic component mounting apparatus is operated under thecontrol of the control unit 1000.

FIG. 10 is a general layout plan showing operation of the support railunits 21, 22 to return to the origin and mounting operation thereof. Thecomponent feed units 8A, 8B, 18A, 18B, recognition cameras 9,19 forpicking up of an image of a suction attitude of an electronic component,working heads 4, 14 having suction nozzles 10, 20 each having a shapesuitable to an electronic component to be sucked (see FIG. 17), andboard conveying devices 3, 13 having the support rail units 21, 22 (seeFIG. 18) are disposed point-symmetrically with respect to the centralpoint 102 of the component mounting work area 200. As described above,the component mounting work area 200 is divided by a straight linepassing through the central point 102 along the board conveyingdirection into two areas; the first mounting area 201 (lower half of thecomponent mounting work area 200 in FIG. 10) and the second mountingarea 202 (upper half of the component mounting work area 200 in FIG.10). The support rail units 21, 22, board passage detecting sensor 31,board stopper 32, board arrival detecting sensor 33, and support plate38 are shown in the first mounting area 201 as the support rail units21-1, 22-1, board passage detecting sensor 31-1, board stopper 32-1,board arrival detecting sensor 33-1, and support plate 38-1,respectively, while shown in the second mounting area 202 as the supportrail units 21-2, 22-2, board passage detecting sensor 31-2, boardstopper 32-2, board arrival detecting sensor 33-2, and support plate38-2, respectively.

In the first mounting area 201, the support rail unit 21-1 on the lockedside is moved in a range to the origin position P21-1 shown with a lowerright solid line. The support rail unit 22-1 on the moved side is movedin a range to the origin position P22-1 shown with an upper right solidline. Meanwhile, in the second mounting area 202, the support rail unit21-2 on the locked side is moved in a range to the origin position P21-2shown with an upper left solid line. The support rail unit 22-2 on themoved side is moved in a range to the origin position P22-2 shown with alower left solid line.

FIG. 11 shows a state where the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on thelocked side and the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved side arenot positioned at the origins while the component mounting apparatus isturned on.

FIG. 12 shows a state where, after the component mounting apparatus isturned on, the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side aremoved to their respective origin positions P21-1, P21-2 at a low speedto return to the origins and locked at the origin positions P21-1,P21-2, and then the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved side aremoved towards their respective origin positions P22-1, P22-2 at a lowspeed.

That is, in FIG. 12, in each mounting area 201, 202, the motor 40 formoving support rail units is driven and the ball screw shafts 35, 35rotate synchronously. The rack gears 29, 29 are engaged with the gears28, 28 by the selective lock mechanisms 70, 70 to regulate the rotationof the nuts 27, 27. Therefore, the support rail unit 21-1 on the lockedside on the front side of the first mounting area 201 (that is, thelower right side of FIG. 10) and the support rail unit 21-2 on thelocked side on the rear side of the second mounting area 202 (that is,the upper left side of FIG. 10) are independently moved to the originpositions, at which the holes 45 of the board conveying device base 44are formed as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (lower right origin position P21-1shown with the solid line in FIG. 10 for the first mounting area 201 andupper left origin position P21-2 shown with the solid line in FIG. 10for the second mounting area 202) at a low speed. The respective originpositions P21-1, P21-2 of the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on thelocked side are positioned closest to the recognition cameras 9,19 andthe component feed units 8A, 18A. That is, in the first mounting area201, the support rail unit 21-1 on the locked side and the support railunit 22-1 on the moved side are integrally moved downward at a low speedas shown with a downward arrow in FIG. 12. Then, the movement of boththe support rail units 21-1, 22-1 is stopped when the support rail unit21-1 on the locked side is positioned at the origin position P21-1. Inthe second mounting area 202, the support rail unit 21-2 on the lockedside and the support rail unit 22-2 on the moved side are integrallymoved upward at a low speed as shown with an upward arrow in FIG. 12.Then, the movement of both the support rail units 21-2, 22-2 is stoppedwhen the support rail unit 21-2 on the locked side is positioned at theorigin position P21-2.

Subsequently, when the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked sideare completely returned to their origins, the cylinders 30, 30 of thesupport rail unit 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side are driven and the pins43, 43 at a lower end of each piston rod are engaged with the holes 45,45 of the board conveying device bases 44, 44. Thus, the support railunits 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side are locked at their respectiveorigin positions P21-1, P21-2. That is, after the support rail units21-1, 21-2 on the locked side are moved to their respective originpositions P21-1, P21-2, engagement of the rack gears 29, 29 with thegears 28, 28 is released by the selective lock mechanisms 70, 70 on therespective support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side and freerotation of the nuts 27, 27 is allowed, and the pin 43 at the lower endof the piston rod of the selective lock mechanism cylinder 30 isinserted and engaged with the hole 45 of the board conveying device base44. The support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side are fixed atthe positions immovably.

Subsequently, when the front-side origin position detecting sensor 401,401 detects that the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked sideare positioned at their respective origin positions P21-1, P21-2 (whenthe rail lock (furthest position) is switched from on to off in FIG.27), a prescribed time period is measured by a timer T6 and then themotor 40 for moving support rail units is reverse-driven so that thesupport rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved side start moving towardstheir respective origin position P22-1, P22-2 in a direction reverse tothe above at a low speed. That is, the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 onthe moved side are first moved integrally with the support rail units21-1, 21-2 on the locked side in the same arrow direction at a low speedby the low-speed movement of the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on thelocked side to their origin position side. Then, after the support railunits 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side are positioned at their respectiveorigin positions P21-1, P21-2, the motor 40 for moving support railunits is driven to rotate in the reverse direction to rotate the ballscrew shafts 35, 35 synchronously in the reverse direction. Then, thesupport rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved side are moved at a low speedin a direction reverse to the previous movement and moved to theirrespective origin positions (the upper right origin position P22-1 shownwith the solid line in FIG. 10 for the first mounting area 201 and thelower left origin position P22-2 shown with the solid line in FIG. 10for second mounting area 202).

Subsequently, in FIGS. 13 and 25, when the rear-side origin positiondetecting sensors 404, 404 detect that the support rail units 22-1, 22-2on the moved side are moved to the outermost side (that is, reach theirorigin positions P22-1, P22-2) and are positioned at the respectiveorigin positions P22-1, P22-2 of the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 onthe moved side, the movement of the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 on themoved side is stopped and their return to the origin is completed. As aresult, the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side and thesupport rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved side return to theirrespective origin positions P21-1, P21-2, P22-1, P22-2 in FIG. 13.

Subsequently, while the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked sideare fixed to their respective origin positions P21-1, P21-2 in FIG. 14similar to FIG. 13, the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved sideare moved from their origin positions P22-1, P22-2 towards the supportrail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side according to the width ofboards 2-1, 2-2 onto which components are to be mounted. Thus,adjustment of the distances between the support rail units 21-1, 22-1and the support rail units 21-2, 22-2 is completed. At this time, sincethe widths of the boards 2-1, 2-2, onto which components are to bemounted subsequently, are stored in advance in the database 1001, themovement amounts of the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved sideare calculated in the operation unit 1002 based on this information andinformation such as movement amounts of the support rail units 22-1,22-2 on the moved side by rotation by the motor 40 for moving supportrail units or the like. The amount of rotation of the motor 40 formoving support rail units is calculated, and the rotation driven by themotor 40 for moving support rail units based on this calculation resultis controlled. The above operation can be performed in advance, and onlythe operation result information can be stored in the database 1001. Therotation driven by the motor 40 for moving support rail units can alsobe controlled by utilizing this information.

Subsequently, after the adjustment of the distances between the supportrail units 21-1, 22-1 and the support rail units 21-2, 22-2 is finishedaccording to the widths of the boards 2-1, 2-2, onto which componentsare to be mounted, each rack gear 29 is engaged with each gear 28 byeach selective lock mechanism 70 and then the support rail units 21-1 onthe locked side and 22-1 on the moved side are synchronously moved inone direction (that is, upward in FIG. 15 by rotation of the ball screwshafts 35, 35 in the first board conveying/holding device 3 as shown inFIG. 15). Similarly, in the second board conveying/holding device 13,each rack gear 29 is engaged with each gear 28 by a respective lockmechanism 70 and then the support rail units 21-2 on the locked side and22-2 on the moved side are synchronously moved in one direction (thatis, downward in FIG. 15) by rotation of the ball screw shafts 35, 35 inthe second board conveying/holding device 13. Then, the support railunits 21-1 on the locked side and 22-1 on the moved side and the supportrail units 21-2 on the locked side and 22-2 on the moved side are movedto a position (conveying position), at which the left and right boardconveying/holding devices 3, 13 are aligned in one line in the center ofthe component mounting work area 200 in the mounting apparatus. Then,the second board conveying/holding device 13 waits for the board 2-1 tobe carried in from the first board conveying/holding device 3, while thefirst board conveying/holding device 3 waits for a board 2-0 to becarried in from the loader 1.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 24, the first boardconveying/holding device 3 and the second board conveying/holding device13 are driven under the control of the control unit 1000 so that thecarrying-in of the board 2-1 from the first board conveying/holdingdevice 3 to the second board conveying/holding device 13 is completed.Also, the loader 1 and the first board conveying/holding device 3 aredriven under the control of the control unit 1000 so that thecarrying-in of the board 2-0 from loader 1 to the first boardconveying/holding device 3 is completed. Subsequently, the support railunits 21-1, 22-1 of the first board conveying/holding device 3 holdingthe board 2-0 are moved downward in FIG. 16 to a position closest to therecognition camera 9. The support rail units 21-2, 22-2 of the secondboard conveying/holding device 13 holding the board 2-1 are moved upwardin FIG. 16 to each component mounting position (position, at which thesupport rail units 21-1, 22-1 on the locked side are positioned at theirrespective origin positions P21-1, P22-1) as an example of a workposition positioned closest to the recognition camera 19. Here, theworking heads 4, 14 suck desired components from the component feedunits 8A or 8B, 18A or 18B by the respective nozzles 10, 20. Then, thesuction attitudes of these components are image-picked up by therecognition cameras 9, 19, and then calculated and corrected. Then, thecomponents are mounted onto the electronic circuit boards 2-0, 2-1. Inthe above embodiment, since the recognition camera 9, 19 and theelectronic circuit board 2-0, 2-1 are positioned at positions closest toeach other irrespective of the size of the electronic circuit board 2when mounting is performed, the moving distance of the working head 4,14 can be reduced and thus the mounting time can be shortened.

On the other hand, when maintenance of the mounting apparatus isperformed, the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side and thesupport rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved side are moved to positionsdistant from the first and second component mounting positions andreceded from above the support plate 38-1, 38-2 in FIGS. 17 and 26.Consequently, various maintenance works for the mounting apparatus, forexample, replacement of support pins 87 or support plates 38-1, 38-2 forsupporting an electronic circuit board 2 from downward or replacement ofnozzles 10, 20 in the nozzle station 7, 17, can be easily performedwithout trouble.

The conveyance flow of boards under the control of the control unit 1000is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 18 to 21.

FIGS. 18 to 21 show a flow of electronic circuit boards 2 duringproduction (component mounting). At a stage where the production isstarted, the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 on the locked side and thesupport rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved side are synchronously driventogether. FIGS. 22 and 23 show timing charts in the board conveyingoperation.

FIG. 18 shows positional relationship when component mounting productionis finished. At this time, the electronic circuit board 2-0 to beproduced next is ready on the loader 1.

First, as shown in the timing charts in FIGS. 22 and 23, after thecomponent mounting production is finished, the lower limit positiondetecting sensors S39L, S39L detect that the support plates 38-1, 38-2of the first and second board conveying/holding devices 3, 13, startlowering by drive of the support plate drive cylinders 39, 39 under thecontrol of the control unit 1000, and are positioned at their respectivelower limit positions. When detection signals from the lower limitposition detecting sensors S39L, S39L are input in the control unit1000, the board stopper drive cylinder 32D is driven and a stopper 32-1,which is provided on the support rail unit 21-1 on the locked side ofthe first board conveying/holding device 3 and positioned at a raisedposition during a mounting operation, lowers in the first boardconveying/holding device 3 so that the board 2 reaches a state where theboard 2 can be carried out. A stopper 32-2, which is provided on thesupport rail unit 21-2 on the locked side of the second boardconveying/holding device 13 and positioned at a raised position during amounting operation, also lowers so that the board 2 becomes in a statewhere the board 2 can be carried out.

When the detection signals from the lower limit position detectingsensors S39L, S39L are input in the control unit 1000, the board stopperdrive cylinder 32D is driven in the first board conveying/holding device3 as described above. In addition to this, in the first boardconveying/holding device 3, the motor 40 for moving support rail unitsis driven, and the ball screw shafts 35, 35 rotate synchronously. Thesupport rail units 21-1, 22-1 start moving from a first componentmounting position towards the board conveying position in the centralportion of the component mounting work area 200 as shown upward in FIG.18. In the second board conveying/holding device 13 as well, the motor40 for moving support rail units is driven and the ball screw shafts 35,35 rotate synchronously. The support rail units 21-2, 22-2 start movingfrom a second component mounting position towards the board conveyingposition in the central portion of the component mounting work area 200as shown downward in FIG. 18. At this time, in the second boardconveying/holding device 13, when the motor 40 for moving support railunits is driven, the belt drive motor 42 is also driven at the same timeand conveyance is started so that the board 2-2 positioned on the rightend portion side in the second board conveying/holding device 13 ismoved towards the left end portion. When the board passage detectingsensor 31-2 detects the board 2-2, it is determined whether the motor 40for moving support rail units is driven. When this motor 40 is driven,drive of the belt drive motor 42 is stopped. When this motor 40 is notdriven, drive of the belt drive motor 42 may be continued. This is forthe purpose of conveying the board 2-2 only on the support rail units21-2, 22-2 of the second board conveying/holding device 13 to shortenthe conveying time from the second board conveying/holding device 13 tothe unloader side. Consequently, the board 2-2 does not protrude fromthe support rail units 21-2, 22-2 during the movement of the supportrail units 21-2, 22-2. Also, after the motor 40 for moving support railunits is driven and then a prescribed time passes (that is, before thesupport rail units 21-2, 22-2 are positioned at the board conveyingposition), drive of the belt drive motor 42 is suspended once and themotor gets ready for the subsequent board conveying operation at theboard conveying position.

FIG. 19 shows a state where the support rail units 21-1, 22-1 of thefirst board conveying/holding device 3 and the support rail units 21-2,22-2 of the second board conveying/holding device 13 arrive at the boardconveying positions in the central portion of the component mountingwork area 200 and are stopped at their respective board conveyingpositions. In this state, the loader 1, the support rail units 21-1,22-1 of the first board conveying/holding device 3, the support railunits 21-2, 22-2 of the second board conveying/holding device 13, andthe unloader 11 are aligned in one line. Here, the electronic circuitboard 2 flows from right to left.

Subsequently, it is detected that the support rail units 21-2, 22-2 ofthe second board conveying/holding device 13 are moved from the secondcomponent mounting position to the board conveying position (that is,drive of the motor 40 for moving support rail units of the second boardconveying/holding device 13 is stopped). Then, the belt drive motor 42is driven and the board 2-2 produced (components-mounted) in the secondboard conveying/holding device 13 is carried out from the second boardconveying/holding device 13 to the unloader 11. Completion of thecarrying-out is determined when the board passage detecting sensor 31-2detects that the board 2-2 passes and is not present.

When the completion of the carrying-out of the board is determined bythe control unit 1000, the motor 40 for moving support rail units of thefirst board conveying/holding device 3 is driven and conveyance of theboard 2-1 produced in the first board conveying/holding device 3 fromthe first board conveying/holding device 3 to the second boardconveying/holding device 13 is started.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 20, when the board arrival detectingsensor 33-2 detects arrival and passage of the board 2-1 in the secondboard conveying/holding device 13, drive of the belt drive motor 42 isstopped, while the board stopper drive cylinder 32D is driven and theboard stopper 32-2 is raised to the upper limit position. The upper endposition detecting sensor S32 detects that the board stopper 32-2reaches the upper limit position and is prepared to stop the board 2-1.Meanwhile, the board 2-1 is conveyed in a direction from right to leftby drive of the belt drive motor 42. After the board arrival detectingsensor 33-2 detects the arrival and passage of the board 2-1 and a lapseof a prescribed time (for example, 0.1 ms) is measured by a timer T4 sothat a delay is achieved by the time required for the board stopper 32-2to be raised to the upper limit position, rotation of the belt drivemotor 42 is driven in the reverse direction so that the belt 500attached to the support rail units 21-2, 22-2 of the second boardconveying/holding device 13 is run in a direction from left to right andthe board 2-1 is conveyed in the reverse direction. Then, the right sideend edge of the board 2-1 is brought into contact with the board stopper32-2 and the board arrival detecting sensor 33-2 detects arrival of theboard 2-1. After the arrival is detected and a prescribed time period ismeasured by the timer T3, drive of the belt drive motor 42 is stopped.The belt drive motor 42 is thus driven in excess so that the right sideend edge of the board 2-1 can be brought into contact with the boardstopper 32-2 more reliably.

Meanwhile, after the board arrival detecting sensor 33-2 detects thearrival and passage of the board 2-1, the motor 40 for moving supportrail units is driven and the support rail units 21-2, 22-2 of the secondboard conveying/holding device 13 start moving from the board conveyingposition to the second component mounting position, that is, towards therecognition camera 19. That is, conveyance of the board 2-1 on thesupport rail units 21-2, 22-2 and movement of the support rail units21-2, 22-2 themselves from the board conveying position to the secondcomponent mounting position are carried out at the same time. Thus, thearrival of the board 2-1 on the support rail units 21-2, 22-2 at theprescribed position and the arrival of the support rail units 21-2, 22-2at the second component mounting position are both finished and theboard conveying operation is finished. That is, when the reverse driveof the belt drive motor 42 is stopped and the drive of the motor 40 formoving support rail units is stopped, a termination of the boardconveying operation is determined and the support plate drive cylinder39 is driven so that the support plate 38-2 is raised. Then, the board2-2 is supported by the support plate 38-2.

Some time period is required between the board conveying operations.During this time period, replacement of nozzles 20 required forproduction or the like is performed in the nozzle station 17 or thelike. In general, nozzle replacement is performed a plurality of timesto produce one electronic circuit board 2, and nozzle replacement isperformed since the nozzles are always returned to original nozzles atthe beginning of the production of boards 2.

Meanwhile, in the first board conveying/holding device 1, when the boardpassage detecting sensor 31-1 confirms passage of the board 2-0 from theloader 1, the board stopper drive cylinder 32D is driven and the boardstopper 32-1 is raised to the upper limit position. The upper endposition detecting sensor S32 detects that the board stopper 32-2reaches the upper limit position and preparation for carrying in theboard is completed. Meanwhile, after a lapse of a prescribed time ismeasured by a timer T1, the rotation speed of the belt drive motor 42 isreduced so that an impact is reduced when the board 2-0 is brought intocontact with the board stopper 32-1. Then, the left end edge of theboard 2-0 is brought into contact with the board stopper 32-1 andarrival of the board 2-0 is detected and confirmed by the board arrivaldetecting sensor 33-1. After the arrival of the board is detected by theboard arrival detecting sensor 33-1 and a lapse of a prescribed time ismeasured by the timer T1, drive of the belt drive motor 42 is stopped.The belt drive motor 42 is thus driven in excess so that the left sideend edge of the board 2-0 is brought into contact with the board stopper32-1 more reliably.

Meanwhile, after the board passage detecting sensor 31-1 confirms thepassage of the board 2-0, the motor 40 for moving support rail units isdriven and the support rail units 21-1, 22-1 start moving from the boardconveying position towards the first component mounting position, thatis, towards the recognition camera 9. As in the case of the support railunits 21-2, 22-2 of the second board conveying/holding device 13,conveyance of the board 2-0 and movement of the support rail units 21-1,22-1 are carried out at the same time. When both the operations arecompleted, the board conveying operation is finished. That is, whendrive of the belt drive motor 42 is stopped and drive of the motor 40for moving support rail units is stopped, a termination of the boardconveying operation is determined and the support plate drive cylinder39 is driven so that the support plate 38-1 is raised. Then, the board2-0 is supported by the support plate 38-1.

Some time period is required during the board conveying operations.During this time period, replacement of nozzles 10 required forproduction or the like is performed in the nozzle station 7 or the like.

FIG. 21 shows a state where the board conveying operation is completedand the production of the board (that is, the component mountingoperation) is started as in the case shown FIG. 16.

Subsequently, when production is completed as explained with referenceto FIGS. 18 to 20, the support rail units 21, 22 of each boardconveying/holding device 3, 13 are moved from the first and secondcomponent mounting positions to the board conveying position so that theproduced board is carried out. After a subsequent board is carried in,the state is returned to the mounting state in FIG. 21, and the mountingoperation is continued. Thus, components are successively mounted ontoboards.

According to the above embodiment, in one component mounting apparatus,the component mounting work area 200 of the board 2 is divided into twoareas, the first mounting area 201 and the second mounting area 202,assuming the board conveyance path from the board carrying-in side tothe board carrying-out side as a center. In the first mounting area 201,the board 2-1 is carried in from the loader 1 to the first mounting area201. The board 2-1 is positioned and held for a mounting operation at aportion closest to the component feed unit 8A and the recognition camera9 as an example of the first component recognition unit disposed at anend portion of the first mounting area 201 along a direction of theboard conveyance path. Subsequently, in the first mounting area 201,components are sucked and held from the component feed units 8A, 8B andmounted on at least a half area (a shaded area 2A in FIG. 2) of theboard 2-1 on the front-side with respect to an operator on the sidecloser to the first component feed unit 8A. Subsequently, after themounting work in the first mounting area 201 is finished, the board 2-1is positioned and held for a mounting operation at a portion closest tothe component feed unit 18A of the second mounting area 202 and therecognition camera 19 as an example of the second component recognitionunit to mount components onto the board 2-1. Subsequently, in the secondmounting area 202, components are sucked and held from the componentfeed units 18A, 18B and mounted at least on a half area (a shaded area2A in FIG. 2) on the rear side viewed from the operator on the sidecloser to the component feed unit 18A of the board 2-1. Subsequently,after the mounting work is finished in the second mounting area 202, theboard 2-1 is carried out from the second mounting area 202. As a result,the shortest distances between the board 2 positioned at each mountingarea 201, 202, each component feed unit 8A, 18A, and each recognitioncamera 9, 19 can be substantially reduced as compared with aconventional case where a board is held on the board conveyance path inthe component mounting work area. Thus, the mounting time can beshortened and productivity can be improved.

That is, one component mounting work area 200 of one mounting apparatusis divided into two areas, the first mounting area 201 and the secondmounting area 202 so that two boards 2 are placed and components can bemounted. Then, the boards are moved back and forth in each mounting areaso that components are fed, recognized, and mounted on the end edge sideof the mounting area close to the component feed unit. For example, theboard 2 in the first mounting area 201 is positioned at the front-sideend edge of the mounting area while the board 2 in the second mountingarea 202 is positioned at the rear-side end edge of the mounting area.Therefore, the recognition camera 9, 19 and the electronic circuit board2-0, 2-1 approach each other to have the shortest distance therebetweenirrespective of the size of the electronic circuit board 2 when mountingoperations are performed. Consequently, the moving distance of theworking head 4, 14 (that is, the distances between positions for threeoperations—suction, recognition, and mounting operations of components)is minimized. Thus the mounting time can be shortened and the productionefficiency can be improved. In particular, when components areconventionally mounted onto a board in the vicinity of the boardconveying position, the distances between positions for threeoperations—suction, recognition, and mounting, of components are longfor a small board and thus the mounting time is long. In thisembodiment, however, whether the board is small or large, the board ispositioned at such a position for mounting operation that the distancesbetween positions for three operations—suction, recognition, andmounting, of components become short. Therefore, the mounting time canbe substantially reduced. In particular, in each mounting area, thecomponent feed units 8A, 8B, 18A, 18B are disposed almost at theentirety of the end edges along the board conveying direction in thecomponent mounting work area as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Therefore, therecognition cameras 9, 19 are disposed on the central side of thecomponent mounting work area 200 while the position where the board 2 isto be positioned is located on the central side of the componentmounting work area 200 in the board conveying/holding device 3, 13 sothat the distances between positions for three operations—suction,recognition, and mounting of components become shorter. Thus, themounting time can be further improved. Since one component mounting workarea 200 is divided into two, the moving distance of the working heads4, 14 is reduced and thus the mounting time can be improved. Forexample, in the mounting apparatus of this embodiment, the time requiredto mount one component can be reduced to about a half of that requiredin a conventional device. Thus, mounting time can be substantiallyimproved.

Since two boards 2, 2 are positioned diagonally, that is, in a zigzagmanner, in the component mounting work area 200 in one componentmounting apparatus, a mounting efficiency per unit area can be improvedas compared with a conventional device in which only one board 2 ispositioned.

Furthermore, due to the zigzag positions of the boards 2, 2 in onecomponent mounting apparatus, for example, other component feed unitssuch as the tray-type component feed unit 8C, 18C, in whichsemiconductor chips or the like can be housed without reducing thesuccessively disposed number of already positioned component feed unit,for example, cassette feed units, or the like can be positioned in azigzag manner in an area in which no board 2 is placed. The componentfeed unit constituted by the tray-type component feed unit or the likecan be located closer to the board and thus component feeding efficiencycan be improved.

Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, when maintenance of themounting apparatus is performed, the support rail units 21-1, 21-2 onthe locked side and the support rail units 22-1, 22-2 on the moved sideare moved to positions that are distant from the first and secondcomponent mounting positions, respectively, and receded from above thesupport plates 38-1, 38-2. Consequently, when various maintenance workfor the mounting apparatus such as, for example, replacement of thesupport pins 87 or the support plates 38-1, 38-2 for supporting theelectronic, circuit board 2 from below or replacement of the nozzles 10,20 in the nozzle station 7, 17 are performed, the various maintenancework can be easily performed without trouble. Furthermore, the supportplates 38 can be easily replaced in a batch and thus the time requiredto change positions of the support pins 87 can be shortened.

Furthermore, if operations are controlled and the sensors and thestoppers are arranged so that the board is placed in the board conveyingdirection in the second board conveying/holding device 13 once, and thenthe board 2 is moved in a direction reverse to the board conveyingdirection and positioned when only arrangement of the first boardconveying/holding device 3 and the second board conveying/holding device13 is changed point-symmetrically and the board 2 is positioned in thesecond board conveying/holding device 13, the first boardconveying/holding device 3 and the second board conveying/holding device13 can have exactly the same structure and become in common with eachother.

Furthermore, by the locking operation and the unlocking operation of theselective lock mechanism 70, a Y-direction moving operation, in whichthe support rail unit 21 on the locked side is moved integrally with thesupport rail unit 22 on the moved side, and a distance adjustingoperation according to the board width, in which the support rail unit21 on the locked side is fixed and only the support rail unit 22 on themoved side is moved, can be selected. The drive shaft for the distanceadjustment according to the board width for adjusting the distancebetween the support rail units 21, 22 according to the board width andthe drive shaft for conveying the board can be commonly used. Therefore,the number drive shafts can be reduced. Thus, the drive mechanism forthe distance adjustment according to the board width and the drivemechanism for conveying the board can be simplified.

Furthermore, the locking operation and the unlocking operation of theselective lock mechanism 70, 70 can be selectively performed by drive ofthe selective lock mechanism cylinder 30. As a result, the Y-directionmoving operation, in which the support rail unit 21 on the locked sideis moved integrally with the support rail unit 22 on the moved side, andthe distance adjusting operation according to the board width, in whichthe support rail unit 21 on the locked side is fixed and only thesupport rail unit 22 on the moved side is moved, can be easily andreliably selected.

Furthermore, since one motor 40 is driven to drive rotation of two ballscrew shafts 35, 35 synchronously so that the support rail units 21, 22are easily moved, the two ball screw shafts 35, 35 can be easily drivensynchronously and the support rail units 21, 22 can be more reliablymoved in parallel.

Furthermore, since the support plate 38 having the support pins 87 andthe support rail units 21, 22 are separated and independently driven,the movement mechanism is made lighter and simplified as compared withthe case where the support plate 38 and the support rail unit areintegrally moved. Thus, the moving operation can be faster at a lowercost.

When the board positioning stopper 32 and the board arrival detectingsensor 33 are disposed at the front and rear end portions in the boardconveying direction in each board conveying/holding device 3, 13, theboard 2 can be positioned at both front and rear end portions in theboard conveying direction. Therefore, in each mounting area 201, 202, aboard positioning position at which the board 2 is positioned can bearbitrarily determined based on information such as the size of theboard 2, distribution of positions at which components are mounted,distribution of positions at which components are sucked from thecomponent feed unit and held, and so forth.

Furthermore, when component mounting in the first boardconveying/holding device and component mounting in the second boardconveying/holding device are performed simultaneously, mountingoperations can be performed more efficiently and thus mounting time canbe shortened.

Furthermore, when board conveyance from the loader to the first boardconveying/holding device, board conveyance from the first boardconveying/holding device to the second board conveying/holding device,and board conveyance from the second board conveying/holding device tothe unloader are performed simultaneously, board conveying operationscan be performed more efficiently and thus the mounting time can beshortened.

It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the aboveembodiment, but can be applied in other various aspects.

For example, due to the zigzag positions of the boards 2, 2 in onecomponent mounting apparatus, when other component feed units such as atray-type component feed unit 8C, 18C, which can house, for example,semiconductor chips or the like without reducing the successivelydisposed number of already positioned component feed units for example,cassette feed units, disposed in a zigzag manner in an area in which noboard 2 is placed, an automatic tray replacement device 300 may beprovided to automatically replace the tray-type component feed unit 18Cas shown with an alternate long and two dot-chain line in FIG. 3.Furthermore, although not specifically shown, while the tray-typecomponent feed unit 8C is manually placed by an operator, the automatictray replacement device 300 may be provided to automatically replace thetray-type component feed unit 8C as in the case of the tray-typecomponent feed unit 18C. Furthermore, automatic component feed unitreplacement devices may be provided for other component feed units 8A,8B, 18A, 18B to automatically replace the component feed units 8A, 8B,18A, 18B. Consequently, since stopping of the mounting operation due toshortage of components in the component feed unit or the like duringcomponent mounting is prevented, practical production capacity, that is,real productivity, can be improved. That is, components are continuouslyfed and mounted at a high speed. Furthermore, when the component feedunits and other constituent elements of the component mounting apparatussuch as their respective automatic replacement devices or the like aremodulated, they are appropriately replaced in response to furtherimprovement of the mounting apparatus and thus the component mountingapparatus can be advanced. That is, while basic elements are assumed asa foundation, the component mounting apparatus can be advanced only byreplacing a module of each constituent element. Furthermore, asdescribed above, when constituent elements are modulated, a model changeof the board or the component can be responded to only by appropriatelyreplacing the module of the constituent element even if the model of aboard or a component is changed. Thus, productivity per deviceinstallation area (that is, area productivity) can also be improved.

Furthermore, the component mounting work area 200 of the mountingapparatus is divided into two areas, the first mounting area 201 and thesecond mounting area 202, along the component conveying direction.However, the area does not need to be evenly divided into two areas, butmay be divided into two areas in arbitrary proportions.

Furthermore, if the mounting operation in the first mounting area 201and the mounting operation in the second mounting area 202 can interferewith each other due to the size of the mounting areas or the board,operations may be controlled by the control unit 1000 so that respectivemounting operations may be performed independently in a non-interferencearea, whereas either one mounting operation is on standby in aninterference area.

Furthermore, the component mounting position is not limited to theorigin position of one support rail unit 21 closer to the recognitioncamera 9, 19 and the component feed unit 8A, 18A, but can be set to beat an arbitrary position.

Furthermore, on the support rail units 21, 22, the position at which theboard 2 is positioned is not limited to either one end portion, but maybe positioned in the central portion by utilizing the board stopper 32or the like. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the board 2 ispositioned at the left side end portion in the first boardconveying/holding device 3, while the board 2 is positioned at the rightside end portion in the second board conveying/holding device 13.However, as required, the board 2 may be positioned at the right sideend portion in the first board conveying/holding device 3, while theboard 2 may be positioned at the left side end portion in the secondboard conveying/holding device 13. In this case, at least the boardstoppers 32 are preferably positioned on both left and right sides ofeach board conveying/holding device as shown with solid lines and chainlines in FIGS. 2 and 8.

Thus, the position at which the board 2 is positioned on the supportrail unit 21, 22 can be optimally determined based on the size of theboard 2, positions at which components are mounted on the board 2,positions of the recognition cameras 9, 19, the component feed units 8A,8B, 18A, 18B and so forth, the position of the component feed unit whichtakes components most frequently and so forth among the component feedunits 8A, 8B, 18A, 18B.

Furthermore, two ball screw shafts for moving support rail units 21, 22in parallel are disposed in each board conveying/holding device 3, 13,but a simpler structure can be achieved by, for example, disposing oneball screw shaft in the center and guide members on both sides thereof.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 29 to 32, a board conveying device 3A,which is fixed in the vicinity of the component feed unit 8C of thefirst board conveying/holding device 3, performs only conveyance of theboard, and cannot move in the Y-axis direction. Meanwhile, a boardconveying device 13A, which is fixed in the vicinity of the componentfeed unit 18C of the second board conveying/holding device 13, performsonly conveyance of the board, and cannot move in the Y-axis direction.Consequently, when the mounting operation in the first boardconveying/holding device 3 is finished and the mounting operation is notfinished on the side of the second board conveying/holding device 13,while the first board conveying/holding device 3 is disposed adjacent tothe board conveying device 3A as shown in FIG. 31, a board 2-1 held bythe first board conveying/holding device 3 is carried out to the boardconveying device 3A and then carried out further to the unloader 11,while a new board 2-0 can be carried in from the loader 1 to the firstboard conveying/holding device 3. Furthermore, when the mountingoperation in the second board conveying/holding device 13 is finishedand the mounting operation on the side of the first boardconveying/holding device 3 is not finished, while the second boardconveying/holding device 13 is disposed adjacent to the board conveyingdevice 13A as shown in FIG. 32, a board 2-2 held by the second boardconveying/holding device 13 can be carried out to the unloader 11, whilea new board 2-0 can be carried in from the loader 1 via the boardconveying device 13A to the second board conveying/holding device 13. Itis noted that the loader 1 and the unloader 11 are preferably movedbetween the positions shown with dotted lines and solid lines,respectively, in the Y-axis direction.

Furthermore, when the respective support rail units 121-1, 122-1, 121-2,122-2 of the first board conveying/holding device 3 and the second boardconveying/holding device 13 have a length equal to or longer than thewidth of the component mounting work area 200 along the board conveyingdirection as shown in FIG. 33, boards can be carried in and outirrespective of the mounting operation of the other boardconveying/holding device as in the case of the modifications in FIGS. 29to 32.

Furthermore, the selective lock mechanism 70 does not need to bepositioned on the side of one support rail unit 21, but may be disposedat the other support rail unit 22 as well, as shown in FIG. 34, and thusboth of the support rail units 21, 22 may be used as support rail unitson the locked side. Consequently, for example, distance adjustmentaccording to the board width does not necessarily need to be performedby fixing the front-side support rail unit 21-1 with respect to thefront-side origin position and moving a rear-side support rail unit 22-1in the first mounting area 201, but can be performed by fixing therear-side support rail unit 22-1 with respect to the rear-side originposition and moving the front-side support rail unit 21-1. Therefore,when the board conveying direction is changed to a direction reverse tothat in the above embodiment or the like, as described above, thereference position of the support rail units 21, 22 can be easily andreliably changed from the front-side reference which is based on thefront-side origin position, to the rear-side reference which is based onthe rear-side origin position.

It is noted that the selective lock mechanism 70 is not limited to agear mechanism composed of the rack gear and the gear described above,but a clutch mechanism or the like can also be employed.

Furthermore, FIG. 36 shows a component mounting apparatus according toyet another embodiment of the present invention. In this componentmounting apparatus, while the first and second board conveying/holdingdevices 3, 13 are disposed adjacent to each other, a long board 2Gplaced across the first and second board conveying/holding devices 3, 13(shown with a shaded portion in the figure) is carried in and the firstand second board conveying/holding devices 3, 13 are synchronously movedto either the first mounting area 201 or the second mounting area 202 inparallel to mount components. In the example in FIG. 36, the first andsecond board conveying/holding devices 3, 13 are synchronously moved inparallel into the first mounting area 201, and components held from thecomponent feed units 8A, 8B by the head 4 are mounted onto the longboard 2G placed across the first and second board conveying/holdingdevices 3, 13. After mounting, the first and second boardconveying/holding devices 3, 13 are returned to the conveying positionson the central side, and then the board is carried out to the downstreamside. Or, the first and second board conveying/holding devices 3, 13 aresynchronously moved in parallel into the second mounting area 202, andcomponents held from the component feed units 18A, 18B by the head 14are mounted onto the long board 2G placed across the first and secondboard conveying/holding devices 3, 13. After mounting, the first andsecond board conveying/holding devices 3, 13 are returned to theconveying positions on the central side, and then the board is carriedout to the downstream side. It is noted that reference numeral 32Gdenotes a board stopper for positioning when the long board 2G iscarried into the first and second board conveying/holding devices 3, 13.Consequently, usually as shown in FIG. 2, the first and second boardconveying/holding devices 3, 13 are separately driven to independentlymount components in the first mounting area 201 and the second mountingarea 202. However, when the long board 2G placed across the first andsecond board conveying/holding devices 3, 13 is carried in andcomponents are mounted thereon, the above operations are performed sothat components can be appropriately mounted onto boards having totallydifferent sizes in one component mounting apparatus by driving the firstand second board conveying/holding devices 3, 13.

It is noted that arbitrary embodiments among the above variousembodiments can be appropriately combined to exert their respectiveeffects.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the selective lockmechanism releases the engagement with the first nut of the firstrail-like holding member and rotation of the first nut relative to thefirst rail-like holding member is allowed. Then, by rotating the screwshaft, only the second rail-like holding member is moved and theposition of the second rail-like holding member relative to the firstrail-like holding member is changed, while the selective lock mechanismis engaged with the first nut of the first rail-like holding member tothereby rotate the screw shaft so that the first rail-like holdingmember and the second rail-like holding member can be integrally movedin parallel. Therefore, only by performing a locking operation and anunlocking operation of the selective lock mechanism, a gap changingoperation for changing the position of the second rail-like holdingmember relative to the first rail-like holding member and a movingoperation for integrally moving the first rail-like holding member andthe second rail-like holding member in parallel can be performedselectively, reliably and easily. After the plate-like member is carriedinto the conveying position, it can be moved to a desired work positionand held, and thus a desired work can be performed efficiently. At thesame time, after the desired work is finished, the plate-like member canbe carried out to the conveying position and thus the plate-like membercan be carried in, held, and carried out efficiently and rapidly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, one componentmounting work area of one mounting apparatus is divided into two areas,a first mounting area and a second mounting area, so that two boards areplaced to mount components thereon. Then, the board is moved forward andbackward at each mounting area so that components are fed, recognized,and mounted on the end edge side of the mounting area close to thecomponent feed unit. For example, the board in the first mounting areais positioned at the front-side end edge of the mounting area, while theboard in the second mounting area is positioned at the rear-side endedge of the mounting area. Therefore, the recognition unit and theelectronic circuit board can approach each other to have the shortestdistance therebetween irrespective of the size of the electronic circuitboard when a mounting operation is performed. Consequently, for a memberfor sucking and holding a component, for example, a working head, thedistances between positions for three operations—suction, recognition,and mounting of components—are minimized. Thus, the mounting time can beshortened and the production efficiency can be improved. In particular,when components are conventionally mounted on a board in the vicinity ofthe board conveying position, the distances between positions for threeoperations—suction, recognition, and mounting of components—are long fora small board and thus the mounting time is long. In the presentinvention, however, regardless of whether the board is small or large,the board is positioned for mounting operations so that the distancesbetween positions for three operations—suction, recognition, andmounting of components—becomes short. Therefore, the mounting time canbe substantially reduced. In particular, when the component feed unitsare disposed almost at the entire end edge along the board conveyingdirection in the component mounting work area in each mounting area, therecognition unit is disposed on the central side of the componentmounting work area and a position at which the board is positioned ineach board conveying/holding device is positioned on the central side ofthe component mounting work area so that the distances between positionsfor the three operations, including suction, recognition, and mountingof components, becomes shorter. Thus, the mounting time can be furtherimproved. Furthermore, since one component mounting work area is dividedinto two, the moving distance of the working heads is reduced and thusthe mounting time can be improved.

Furthermore, when two boards are positioned diagonally, that is, in azigzag manner, in one component mounting work area in one componentmounting apparatus, a mounting efficiency per unit area can be improvedas compared with a conventional device, in which only one board isplaced.

Furthermore, due to the zigzag positions of the boards in one componentmounting apparatus, other component feed units such as a tray-typecomponent feed unit 8C, 18C in which, for example, semiconductor chipsor the like can be housed without reducing the successively disposednumber of already-positioned component feed units, for example, cassettefeed units or the like, can be positioned in a zigzag manner in an areain which no board 2 is placed. In this case, the component feed unitconstituted by the tray-type component feed unit or the like can bepositioned closer to the board and thus component feeding efficiency canbe improved.

Furthermore, when maintenance of the mounting apparatus is performed,rail-like holding members on the locked side and rail-like holdingmembers on the moved side are moved to positions that are distant fromthe component mounting positions and receded from above the supportplate for supporting each other from below. Consequently, in this case,when various maintenance work for the mounting apparatus such as, forexample, replacement of the support pins or the support plates forsupporting an electronic circuit board 2 or replacement of the nozzlesfor sucking and holding components in the nozzle station can be easilyperformed without trouble. Furthermore, the support plates can be easilyreplaced in a batch and thus time required to change positions of thesupport pins can be shortened.

Furthermore, if operations are controlled and sensors and stoppers arepositioned so that only the positions of the first boardconveying/holding device and the second board conveying/holding deviceare changed and the board is placed in the board conveying direction inthe second board conveying/holding device once and then the board ismoved in a direction reverse to the board conveying direction andpositioned when the board is positioned in the second boardconveying/holding device, the first board conveying/holding device andthe second board conveying/holding device have exactly the samestructure and become common with each other.

Furthermore, by including the selective lock mechanism to perform thelocking operation and the unlocking operation, the Y-direction movingoperation, in which a rail-like holding member on the locked side ismoved integrally with rail-like holding member on the moved side, andthe distance (width) adjusting operation according to the board width,in which the rail-like holding member on the locked side is fixed andonly the rail-like holding member on the moved side is moved, can beselected. The drive shaft for the distance adjustment according to theboard width for adjusting the distance between the first and secondrail-like holding members according to the board width and the driveshaft for conveying the board can be commonly used (unified). Therefore,the number of drive shafts can be reduced. Thus, the drive mechanism forthe distance adjustment according to the board width and the drivemechanism for conveying the board can be simplified.

Furthermore, when one motor is driven to drive rotation of two ballscrew shafts synchronously and move the first and second rail-likeholding members, the two ball screw shafts can be easily drivensynchronously and the first and second rail-like holding members can bereliably moved in parallel.

Furthermore, when the support plate having the support pins and thefirst and second rail-like holding members are separated andindependently driven, the movement mechanism is made lighter andsimplified as compared with the case where the support plate and thefirst and second rail-like holding member are integrally moved. Thus,the moving operation can be faster at a lower cost.

When the board positioning stopper and the board arrival detectingsensor are disposed at the front and rear end portions in the boardconveying direction in each board conveying/holding device, the boardcan be positioned at any one of the front and rear end portions in theboard conveying direction. Therefore, in each mounting area, a boardpositioning position at which the board is positioned, can bearbitrarily determined based on information such as the size of theboard, distribution of positions at which components are mounted,distribution of positions at which components are sucked from thecomponent feed unit and held, and so forth.

Furthermore, when component mounting in the first boardconveying/holding device and component mounting in the second boardconveying/holding device are performed simultaneously, the mountingoperations can be performed more efficiently and thus the mounting timecan be improved.

Furthermore, when board conveyance from the loader to the first boardconveying/holding device, board conveyance from the first boardconveying/holding device to the second board conveying/holding device,and board conveyance from the second board conveying/holding device tothe unloader are performed simultaneously, the board conveyingoperations can be performed more efficiently and thus the mounting timecan be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the two plate-likemember conveying/holding devices (that is, the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device and the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device) are disposed adjacent to each other, and aplate-like member to be subjected to a prescribed work is carried in orout at the plate-like member conveying position in the work device.After the plate-like member is carried in, the devices hold theplate-like members and move to their respective work positions so thatthey can independently perform the prescribed work. Therefore, theplate-like members can be carried in and out at the plate-like memberconveying positions, while the work for the plate-like members can beperformed at the work positions. That is, respective operations can beperformed at optimal positions. Therefore, work efficiency of eachoperation can be improved and there is no portion which is used only fora plate-like member conveying operation and cannot be used for workoperations. Thus, the entire installation area of the work device can beeffectively utilized.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connectionwith the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to theaccompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes andmodifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes andmodifications are to be understood as included within the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims unless they departtherefrom.

1. A method for mounting components, said method comprising: carrying ina board from a loader to a first board conveying/holding device by theloader and the first board conveying/holding device; moving the firstboard conveying/holding device holding the carried-in board to a side ofone component feed unit; mounting components in the one component feedunit onto the board held by the first board conveying/holding device;carrying the board from the first board conveying/holding device to asecond board conveying/holding device by the first boardconveying/holding device and the second board conveying/holding device;moving the second board conveying/holding device holding the carried-inboard to a side of the other component feed unit; mounting components inthe other component feed unit onto the board by the second boardconveying/holding device; and carrying the board from the second boardconveying/holding device to an unloader by the second boardconveying/holder device and the unloader.
 2. A method for mountingcomponents according to claim 1, wherein the component mounting in thefirst board conveying/holding device and the component mounting in thesecond board conveying/holding device are simultaneously performed.
 3. Amethod for mounting components according to claim 1, wherein, while theboard conveyance from the loader to the first board conveying/holdingdevice, the board conveyance from the first board conveying/holdingdevice to the second board conveying/holding device, and the boardconveyance from the second board conveying/holding device to theunloader are performed on a board conveyance path in one line, and theone component feed unit and the other component feed unit are opposed toeach other in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of theboard conveyance path, the components are mounted on a half area of theboard on a side of the one component feed unit in the first boardconveying/holding device and the components are mounted on a half areaof the board on a side of the other component feed unit in the secondboard conveying/holding device.
 4. A method for mounting componentsaccording to claim 1, wherein the board conveyance from the loader tothe first board conveying/holding device, the board conveyance from thefirst board conveying/holding device to the second boardconveying/holding device, and the board conveyance from the second boardconveying/holding device to the unloader are simultaneously performed.5. A method for mounting components according to claim 1, wherein, whilethe board conveyance from the loader to the first boardconveying/holding device, the board conveyance from the first boardconveying/holding device to the second board conveying/holding device,and the board conveyance from the second board conveying/holding deviceto the unloader are performed on a board conveyance path in one line,the one component feed unit and the other component feed unit areopposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to an extendingdirection of the board conveyance path and each component recognitionunit is disposed in a vicinity of each component feed unit on a side ofthe board conveyance path, the component mounting of the first boardconveying/holding device is performed by holding the components from theone component feed unit, recognizing them by the component recognitionunit disposed in the vicinity of the one component feed unit on the sideof the board conveyance path, and then mounting them on a half area onthe side of the one component feed unit of the board held by the firstboard conveying/holding device in the first board conveying/holdingdevice, and component mounting of the second board conveying/holdingdevice is performed by holding the components from the other componentfeed unit, recognizing them by the component recognition unit disposedin the vicinity of the other component feed unit on the side of theboard conveyance path, and then mounting them on a half area of theboard on the side of the other component feed unit of the board held bythe second board conveying/holding device in the second boardconveying/holding device.
 6. A work device for a plate-like member,comprising: a first plate-like member conveying/holding device which cancarry in and out a plate-like member at a plate-like member conveyingposition and hold the carried-in plate-like member; a second plate-likemember conveying/holding device which can be adjacent to the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device at the plate-like memberconveying position, carry in the plate-like member by the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device via the first plate-likemember conveying/holding device, hold the plate-like member carried inby the first plate-like member conveying/holding device, and carry outthe held plate-like member at the plate-like member conveying position;a first moving device for moving the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device in a direction crossing the plate-like memberconveying direction between the plate-like member conveying position anda first work position at which a prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the first plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice; and a second moving device for moving the second plate-likemember conveying/holding device in a direction crossing the plate-likemember conveying direction between the plate-like member conveyingposition and a second work position at which a prescribed work isperformed for the plate-like member held by the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device, wherein the plate-like member is carried inand held by the first plate-like member conveying/holding devicepositioned at the plate-like member conveying/holding position by thefirst plate-like member conveying/holding device, the first plate-likemember conveying/holding device is moved to the first work position bythe first moving device, and the prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the first plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice, the plate-like member held by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device is carried in from the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device positioned at the plate-like memberconveying/holding position to the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device positioned at a position adjacent to the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device by the first plate-likemember conveying/holding device and the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device and held by the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device, the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice is moved to the second work position by the second moving device,and the prescribed work is performed to the plate-like member held bythe second plate-like member conveying/holding device, and theplate-like member held by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice is carried out from the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device at the plate-like member conveying/holdingposition by the second plate-like member conveying/holding device.
 7. Awork device for a plate-like member according to claim 6, wherein a workarea of the work device is divided into two, a first work area and asecond work area, assuming the plate-like member conveying direction atthe plate-like member conveying position as a border, and during a workfor the plate-like member, the first moving device moves the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device to the first work position inthe first work area in which the prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the first plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice, while the second moving device moves the second plate-likemember conveying/holding device to the second work position in thesecond work area in which the prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice.
 8. A work device for a plate-like member according to claim 7,wherein the plate-like member is a board onto which components are to bemounted, the work device for performing the work for the plate-likemember is a component mounting apparatus for mounting the componentsonto the board and the first and second plate-like memberconveying/holding devices are first and second board conveying/holdingdevice; and a component mounting work area in the component mountingapparatus, in which the components are mounted, is divided into a firstmounting area and a second mounting area along a board conveyingdirection, the first board conveying/holding device can be moved to afirst component mounting position as the first work position in thefirst mounting area by the first moving device, while the second boardconveying/holding device can be moved to a second component mountingposition as the second work position in the second mounting area by thesecond moving device, and the components are independently mounted ontoa board held by each board conveying/holding device in each mountingarea.
 9. A work device for a plate-like member according to claim 6,wherein the plate-like member is a board onto which components are to bemounted, the work device for performing the work for the plate-likemember is a component mounting apparatus for mounting the componentsonto the board and the first and second plate-like memberconveying/holding devices are first and second board conveying/holdingdevice; and a component mounting work area in the component mountingapparatus, in which the components are mounted, is divided into a firstmounting area and a second mounting area along a board conveyingdirection, the first board conveying/holding device can be moved to afirst component mounting position as the first work position in thefirst mounting area by the first moving device, while the second boardconveying/holding device can be moved to a second component mountingposition as the second work position in the second mounting area by thesecond moving device, and the components are independently mounted ontoa board held by each board conveying/holding device in each mountingarea.
 10. A work device for a plate-like member according to claim 9,wherein a first component feed unit for feeding the components to bemounted onto the board is disposed at an end edge portion in the firstmounting area on an opposite side of the second mounting area, a firstcomponent recognition unit is disposed in a vicinity of the firstcomponent feed unit and on a side of the first work position, and thework device further comprises a working head which can move in the firstmounting area, holds the components from the first component feed unit,and mounts the components onto the board held by the first boardconveying/holding device positioned at the first component mountingposition after the components are recognized by the first componentrecognition unit, and a second component feed unit for feeding thecomponents to be mounted onto the board is disposed at an end edgeportion in the second mounting area on an opposite side of the firstmounting area, a second component recognition unit is disposed in avicinity of the second component feed unit and one a side of the secondwork position, and the work device further comprises a working headwhich can move in the second mounting area, holds the components fromthe second component feed unit, and mounts the components onto the boardheld by the second board conveying/holding device positioned at thesecond component mounting position after the components are recognizedby the second component recognition unit.
 11. A work method for aplate-like member, comprising: while a first plate-like memberconveying/holding device which can carry in and out and hold aplate-like member, and a second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice which can carry in and out and hold a plate-like member, arepositioned adjacent to each other at a plate-like member conveyingposition, carrying the plate-like member into the first plate-likemember conveying/holding device by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device, carrying in and holding the carried-inplate-like member by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice via the first plate-like member conveying/holding device by thefirst plate-like member conveying/holding device, and carrying in andholding a subsequent plate-like member by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device; moving the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device from the plate-like member conveying positionto a first work position in a direction crossing a plate-like memberconveying direction, and moving the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device from the plate-like member conveying positionto a second work position in a direction crossing the plate-like memberconveying direction; performing a prescribed work for the plate-likemember held by the first plate-like member conveying/holding device atthe first work position, and performing a prescribed work for theplate-like member held by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice at the second work position; moving the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device from the first work position to the plate-likemember conveying position in a direction crossing to the plate-likemember conveying direction, while moving the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device from the second work position to the plate-likemember conveying position in a direction crossing to the plate-likemember conveying direction; and while the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device and the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device are positioned adjacent to each other at theplate-like member conveying position, carrying out the plate-like memberheld by the second plate-like member conveying/holding device from thesecond plate-like member conveying/holding device by the secondplate-like member conveying/holding device, while carrying out theplate-like member held by the first plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice from the first plate-like member conveying/holding device to thesecond plate-like member conveying/holding device by the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device and the second plate-likemember conveying/holding device.
 12. A work method for a plate-likemember according to claim 11, wherein, when a work area of the workdevice is divided into two, a first work area and a second work areaassuming the plate-like member conveying direction at the plate-likemember conveying position as a border and the plate-like memberconveying/holding devices are moved to the work positions; the firstplate-like member conveying/holding device is moved to the first workposition in the first work area, in which the prescribed work isperformed for the plate-like member held by the first plate-like memberconveying/holding device, while the second plate-like memberconveying/holding device is moved to the second work position in thesecond work area, in which the prescribed work is performed for theplate-like member held by the second plate-like member conveying/holdingdevice.
 13. A work method for a plate-like member according to claim 12,wherein, when the plate-like member is a board onto which components areto be mounted, the work device for performing the work for theplate-like member is a component mounting apparatus for mounting thecomponents onto the board, the first and second plate-like memberconveying/holding devices are first and second board conveying/holdingdevices, and a component mounting work area in the component mountingapparatus, in which components are mounted is divided into a firstmounting area and a second mounting area along a board conveyingdirection; the first board conveying/holding device can be moved to afirst component mounting position as the first work position in thefirst mounting area, while the second board conveying/holding device canbe moved to a second component mounting position as the second workposition in the second mounting area by the second moving device, andcomponents are independently mounted onto a board held by each boardconveying/holding device in each mounting area.
 14. A work method for aplate-like member according to claim 11, wherein, when the plate-likemember is a board onto which components are to be mounted, the workdevice for performing the work for the plate-like member is a componentmounting apparatus for mounting the components onto the board, the firstand second plate-like member conveying/holding devices are first andsecond board conveying/holding devices, and a component mounting workarea in the component mounting apparatus, in which components aremounted is divided into a first mounting area and a second mounting areaalong a board conveying direction; the first board conveying/holdingdevice can be moved to a first component mounting position as the firstwork position in the first mounting area, while the second boardconveying/holding device can be moved to a second component mountingposition as the second work position in the second mounting area by thesecond moving device, and components are independently mounted onto aboard held by each board conveying/holding device in each mounting area.15. A work method for a plate-like member according to claim 14,wherein, in the first mounting area, the components are held by aworking head from a first component feed unit installed at an end edgeportion on an opposite side of the second mounting area in the firstmounting area during the prescribed work, and, after the components heldby the working head are recognized by a first component recognition unitdisposed in a vicinity of the first component feed unit and on a side ofthe first work position, the components held by the working head aremounted onto the first board conveying/holding device positioned at thefirst component mounting position, while independently from the abovecomponent holding, component recognition, and component mounting, in thesecond mounting area, the components are held by a working head from asecond component feed unit installed at an end edge portion on anopposite side of the second mounting area in the second mounting area,and, after the components held by the working head are recognized bysecond component recognition unit disposed in a vicinity of the secondcomponent feed unit and on a side of the second work position, thecomponents held by the working head are mounted onto the second boardconveying/holding device positioned at the second component mountingposition.
 16. A work method for a plate-like member according to claim14, wherein the plate-like member is held across both the first andsecond plate-like member conveying/holding devices, and the first andsecond plate-like member conveying/holding devices are synchronouslymoved in parallel to either one of the first mounting area and thesecond mounting area to mount the components.